This calculator can compute the operating costs for a specific appliance, based on average kilowatt hour usage per day and the cost charged by your electric company. First, enter the dollar amount of your last electric bill and the total kilowatt hours used during that billing period. Then enter the wattage listed on the appliance you wish to consider, or the voltage if wattage is not listed. And if neither wattage nor voltage are listed, provide the amperage in the space provided. To finish up, enter the estimated number of hours this appliance used.
Click on CALCULATE, and you’ll be provided with the average cost per kilowatt hour to run your appliance and the total number of KWHs it uses each day. You’ll also see the daily, monthly, and yearly costs of running your appliance, as well as the percentage of your electric bill that it makes up. The calculator is filled out with default values for a refrigerator and monthly billing amounts based upon 2016 EIA energy usage information. You can click into the appliance tab to look up rough estimates for many common household appliances.
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5 Tips to Save Money on Your Electricty Bill
If you are trying to save money, one of the best ways to do it is by trying to pay less every month on your electricity bill. By cutting back on the amount of electricity you use, you can save money each month which will ultimately be great for your annual budget. In order to save money on your electricity bill, make sure you follow these five tips.
Make Sure Your Home is Well Insulated
When your home is not properly insulated, air from the outside can easily filter inside. By keeping air outside where it belongs, you can keep your heating and cooling costs to a minimum.
When there is poor insulation, your heating and cooling systems have to work harder. This in turn can significantly raise your electricity bill. Thermal resistance or R-value measures the effectiveness of insulation. By knowing your R-value and making sure your home is properly insulated, you will be able to cut your electricity bill.
Make Sure Your Windows are Properly Covered
Along with making sure your home is properly insulated, another good practice is to make sure your windows have the proper coverings.
While there are many energy-efficient windows on the market, there are other things you can do to make sure your windows are not letting heat escape or cold air inside. Besides making your home more comfortable, the following types of window treatments can also make your home look nice as well:
- Shades
- Shutters
- Blinds
- Draperies
- Window Film
Most of these kinds of window covers come in various styles and colors, giving the perfect touch to your energy-saving home.
Make Sure Appliances are Unplugged
One very simple way to save money on your electricity bill is to unplug your appliances. While it is a bit of a bother to go around unplugging all of your unused appliances, it will be worth it in the end.
The energy sucked up by turned-off devices that are still plugged in is known as vampire energy. According to one University of Wisconsin-Madison report, unplugging unused appliances and devices can save up to $200 a year on your electricity bill by cutting off vampire energy. This equals a little over $16 a month!
Gadgets using vampire energy include:
- AC adapters such as cell phone chargers
- Display screens such as clock radios
- Gadgets in standby mode waiting for activation such as television sets
If you are curious to know which appliances are the culprit behind your high energy bill, you can buy a digital wattage reader called a kill-a-watt. While it is not always possible to unplug all of your appliances, you can save money on your electricity bill by unplugging the ones you can.
Make Sure Your Refrigerator is Well Maintained
By utilizing simple maintenance methods on all of your appliances, you will be able to stave off high electric bills. One household appliance you will want to pay close attention to is your refrigerator.
Refrigerators generally use more electricity than all other kitchen appliances. Refrigerators use up nearly 14 percent of energy used in the home. One way to get them running efficiently and use less electricity is to make sure the coils get cleaned at least twice a year.
Here are some other refrigerator tips you will want to keep in mind:
- If you have one bigger than you need, consider downsizing.
- Make sure to defrost the freezer as needed.
- Keep the refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees.
- Open the door as little as possible.
- Replace the seal if the door does not close properly.
When your refrigerator is properly maintained and you follow the above energy-saving tips for your fridge, you will notice a lower electricity bill.
Make Sure to Use LED Lights
Light Emitting Diodes, or LED lights, can be used all throughout the home. With a bulb life of 25,000 hours, these lights generally last 25 times longer than regular bulbs while using 75 percent less energy. LEDs are semiconductors that convert electricity into light.
Other advantages of using LED lights include:
- They will not shatter if dropped.
- They do not contain mercury.
- They run cooler, so they do not get too hot.
While the bulbs themselves are more expensive, they will help you save money on your electricity bill in the long run.
Using all five of these simple tips will help you save money on your monthly electricity bill. At the end of the year when you add up all your savings, both you and your bank account will be happy.
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Appliance Operating Costs