Silicon Valley Power logo
 

Appliance Use Chart

It takes just a little energy to save on energy costs. If you pay attention to the little things, the money you save will add up in a big way. The chart below gives you a good idea of energy costs per electrical appliance, kind of like nutrition fact labels on food. See also our Twelve Easy Ways to Save Energy.

 

Appliance Use Chart
Category Detail Estimated Energy Usage* Estimated Energy Costs**
Heating Space heating, electric    
  Portable heater (1500W) 1.5 kWh/hr $0.14/hr
  Baseboard heater (six foot unit) (250 W/foot) 1.5 kWh/hr $0.14/hr
  Heat Pump heat strips 10 kWh/hr w/fan $0.95/hr
  Electric Furnace 10.5 kWh/hr w/fan $1.00/hr
  Heat Pump w/o heat strips (1.8 COP)***    
  1.5 ton 2.93 kWh/hr $0.28/hr
  5.0 ton 9.77 kWh/hr $0.93/hr
 
Air Conditioning/ Cooling Window/wall (8kBtu) (120V-12 EER) 0.73 kWh/hr $0.07/hr
  Window/wall (18kBtu) (240V) 1.8 kWh/hr $0.17/hr
  Central (3 ton-12 SEER) 3.0 kWh/hr $0.29/hr
  Whole house fan 0.2-0.4 kWh/hr $0.02 - $0.04/hr
  Portable fan 0.03 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Ceiling fan 0.075 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
 
Water Heating Electric water heater 380 - 500 kWh/mo $36.24 - $47.69/mo
(All uses) Instantaneous (110 v 29 amp) @1gpm 70'F 380 - 500 kWh/mo $36.24 - $47.69/mo
  Instantaneous (240 v 50 amp) @2.5 gpm 83'F 12 kWh/hr $1.14/hr
 
Kitchen Range, electric    
  Oven 2.3 kWh/hr $0.22/hr
  Oven: Surface 1-1.5 kWh/hr $0.10 - $0.14/hr
  Oven: Self-cleaning feature 6 kWh/hr cleaning $0.57/hr
  Microwave oven 0.12 kWh/5 min $0.01/5 min
  Broiler, portable electric 1.5 kWh/hr $0.14/hr
  Coffee maker 0.12 kWh/brew $0.01/brew
  Coffee maker/brew, warmer on 0.4 kWh/hr $0.04/hr
  Dishwasher: normal cycle (not including hot water) 1 - 2.17 kWh/load $0.10 - $0.21/load
  Dishwasher: Energy saver cycle 0.5 kWh/load $0.05/load
  Toaster (2 slices) 0.04 kWh/use $0.01/hr
  Toaster oven 0.75 kWh/hr $0.07/hr
  Waffle iron, 4 servings 0.33 kWh/use $0.03/use
 
Refrigerator/Freezer Older units    
  Refrigerator (frost-free), 15 cu. Ft. (1996 unit) 150 kWh/mo $14.31/mo
  Freezer (manual defrost), 15 cu. Ft. 90 kWh/mo $8.58/mo
  Refrigerator (frost-free), 15 cu. Ft. (1996 unit) 50 kWh/mo $4.77/mo
  Refrigerator (frost-free), 20 cu. Ft. (1996 unit) 54 kWh/mo $5.15/mo
  Newer units    
  Refrigerator, 1.7 cu. Ft. 30 kWh/mo $2.86/mo
  Energy Star Refrigerator, 14 cu. Ft. 43 kWh/mo $4.10/mo
  Energy Star Refrigerator (frost-free), 14 cu. Ft. 57 kWh/mo $5.44/mo
  Energy Star Refrigerator (frost-free), 17 cu. Ft. 73 kWh/mo $6.96/mo
  Energy Star Refrigerator (frost-free), 19 cu. Ft. 80 kWh/mo $7.63/mo
  Energy Star Refrigerator (Side by Side) 21 cu. Ft. 123 kWh/mo $11.73/mo
  Energy Star Refrigerator (frost-free) 24 cu. Ft. 102 kWh/mo $9.73/mo
  Energy Star Refrigerator (Side by Side) 25 cu. Ft. 132 kWh/mo $12.59/mo
 
Electronics Television    
  > 50" Plasma 0.48 kWh/hr $0.05/hr
  40" - 49" Plasma 0.4 kWh/hr $0.04/hr
  > 50" LCD 0.22 kWh/hr $0.02/hr
  40" - 49" LCD 0.15 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
  > 50" DLP 0.24 kWh/hr $0.02/hr
  40" - 49" DLP 0.2 kWh/hr $0.02/hr
  30" - 36" Tube 0.12 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
  25" - 27" Tube 0.09 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
  Recording/Video Playing Devices    
  DVR (Tivo) 28.8 kWh/mo $2.75/mo
  VCR 0.02 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  DVD player 0.03 kWh/hr Less than $0.02/hr
  Gaming    
  Nintendo Wii 0.02 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Xbox 360 0.15 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
  Play Station 3 0.21 kWh/hr $0.02/hr
  Computers    
  Desktop Computer 0.06 - 0.25 kWh/hr $0.01 - $0.02/hr
  Desktop Computer on sleep/standby mode 0.001 - 0.006 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Laptop 0.02 - 0.05 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Monitor - 17" CRT 0.08 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
  Monitor - 17" LCD 0.04 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Other    
  Speakers (25 Watts x 2) normal volume 0.05 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Stereo 0.05 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Radio, CD player 0.02 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
 
Lighting Incandescent bulbs    
  Incandescent bulb (40 W) 0.04 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Incandescent bulb (60 W) 0.06 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
  Incandescent bulb (75 W) 0.08 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
  Incandescent bulb (100 W) 0.1 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
  Incandescent bulb (150 W) 0.15 kWh/hr $0.01/hr
  Compact fluorescent (CFL)    
  Compact fluorescent (8 W) equivalent to 25 W incandescent 0.008 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Compact fluorescent (11 W) equivalent to 40 W incandescent 0.01 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Compact fluorescent (15 W) equivalent to 60 W incandescent 0.015 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Compact fluorescent (20 W) equivalent to 75 W incandescent 0.02 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Compact fluorescent (27 W) equivalent to 100 W incandescent 0.027 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Compact fluorescent (38 W) equivalent to 150 W incandescent 0.038 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Halogen    
  Halogen (300 W) 0.3 kWh/hr $0.03/hr
 
Laundry Clothes dryer (light load vs. heavy load) 2.5 - 4 kWh/load $0.24 - $0.38/hr
  Electric heated water    
  Warm Wash, cold rinse 2.3 kWh/load $0.22/load
  Hot wash, warm rinse 6.3 kWh/load $0.60/load
 
Household Goods Vacuum cleaner 0.75 kWh/hr $0.07/hr
  Iron 1.08 kWh/hr $0.10/hr
  Clock 2 - 4 kWh/mo $0.19 - $0.38/mo
  Night light (4w on 12-hours/day) 1.44 kWh/mo $0.14/mo
  Electric Blanket: Twin 0.5 kWh/night $0.05/night
  Electric Blanket: Double/Queen 0.75 kWh/night $0.07/night
  Electric Blanket: King 1 kWh/night $0.10/night
  Aquarium 0.05 - 1.21kWh/hr $0.01 - $0.12/hr
 
Bathroom Hair dryer 1.5 kWh/hr $0.14/hr
  Curling iron 0.05 kWh/hr Less than $0.01/hr
  Whirlpool tub 1.8 kWh/hr $0.17/hr
 
Swimming Pool Sweep pump (3/4 hp) 0.56 kWh/hr $0.05/hr
  Filter pump (1-1/2 hp) 1.12 kWh/hr $0.11/hr
  Filter pump (2 hp) 1.5 kWh/hr $0.14/hr
 
Spa/Hot Tub Electric heater (1500 W) 1.5 kWh/hr $0.14/hr
  Electric heater (5500 W) 5.5 kWh/hr $0.52/hr
 
Medical Equipment Nebulizer 1 kWh/hr $0.10/hr
  Oxygen Concentrator 0.46 kWh/hr $0.04/hr
  Sleep Apnea Machine (CPAP) 0.2 kWh/hr $0.02/hr
 
* Estimated energy use is based on average operation conditions. Individual use may vary.
** Estimated costs based on $0.075 per kWh
*** COP = Coefficient of Performance. An electric resistance heater has a COP of 1
GPM - Gallons per minute
SEER - Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (efficiency given to central air conditioning)
EER - Energy Efficiency Ratio (efficiency given to window/wall air conditioners)
 
An ENERGY STAR Fact about refrigeratorsAn ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator uses less electricity than a 75 watt light bulb left on all year.
 
Cool house without air conditioningWhole house fans can keep your house cool without the environmental problems of using air conditioning.
Santa Clara, California

1500 Warburton Avenue; Santa Clara, CA 95050
info@siliconvalleypower.com
Copyright © 2010 Silicon Valley Power
All rights reserved. Please read our Disclaimer and PRIVACY POLICY.