Cost Of Running Appliances

Cost Of Running Appliances By Michael Del Greco

Only when our children become adults will they appreciate why we want them to turn off the lights it costs hard-earned money to pay the bills. The following formula will help you figure out how much each appliance is costing to operate. Being aware of these costs will bring about a greater appreciation for conservation and will save you more than a few dollars in the process.

The cost to operate appliances is based on the following: 1) The cost of fuel  2) The time the appliance is operating  3) The fuel type and quantity required. The cost of fuels varies depending on your geographic location and utility company. Electricity may cost consumers approximately 4¢ per kilowatt hour (kwh) in Spokane or Seattle, Wash. to approximately 17¢ per kwh in Long Island, NY. One kwh of electricity produces 3412 British Thermal Units (BTUs) of heat/energy.

To determine the monthly cost to operate electric appliances or lighting, you need to multiply the wattage of the appliances or lighting by the number of hours each is used per day. Then multiply this by the number of days in the month times the cost of the fuel. Here's an example: 4,500 watts (water heater) divided by 1,000 X approximately 6 hours per day X 30 days X.11¢ per kwh of electricity. Multiply this times 12 for the annual cost.4,500 watts divided by 1,000 = 4.5 kilowatts.4.5 kilowatts X 4 hours per day = 18 kilowatts per day.18 kilowatts per day X 30 days = 540 kilowatts per month. 540 kilowatts per month X .11¢ kwh = $59.40 per month. $59.40 per month X 12 months = $712.80.

Here is a list of appliances and their approximate cost to operate. These figures are based on rates of 11.4¢/kwh (electric) and 63¢ therm (natural gas).

Appliance Cost

• Air Cleaner less than 1/2 c per month
• Air Conditioner (3-ton, central, SEER 15) 27¢ per hour
• Air Conditioner (3-ton, central, SEER 12) 34¢ per hour
• Air Conditioner (3-ton, central, SEER 7) 58¢ per hour
• Air Conditioner (electric room air, /2 ton SEER) 8¢ per hour
• Blender 1¢ per 15 minutes
• Can Opener less than 1/4¢ per use
• Clock 16¢ per month
• Coffee Maker 2¢ per pot
• Dishwasher (w/out heated dry & gas water heater) 13¢per load
• Dishwasher (w/ heated dry & gas water heater) 19¢ per load
• Dishwasher (w/out heated dry & elec. water heater) 37¢ per load
• Dishwasher (w/ heated dry & elec. water heater) 43¢ per load
• Drill (electric) 1¢ per 15 minutes
• Dryer (electric, 30-minute load) 35 1/2¢ per load
• Dryer (gas, 30-minute load) 13¢ per load
• Electric Blanket 1¢ per hour
• Fans (ceilings) 1¢ per hour
• Fans (portable) 1¢ per hour
• Fax Machine (in use) 1¢ per half hour
• Fax Machine (on standby) 66¢ per month
• Food Processor 4¢ per hour
• Furnace Pilot Light (gas) $5.04 per month
• Garage Door Opener (2 times per day) 8¢per month
• Hair Dryer (electric) 14¢ per hour
• Home Computer 2¢ per hour
• Iron 6 1/2¢ per hour
• Knife (electric) 1/4¢per 15 minutes
• Light bulbs (compact fluorescent, 20 watts) less than 1/4¢ per hour
• Light bulbs (incandescent, 60 watts) slightly more than 1/2 per hour
• Light bulbs (incandescent, 100 watts) slightly more than 1 c per hour
• Microwave Oven (standard size, 600-700 watt output) 17 c per hour
• Microwave Oven (compact, 400-500 watt output) 11 1/2¢ per hour
• Night Light (5-7 watts) 1¢ per night
• Refrigerator (22 cu. ft., 10 yrs old, frost-free) $24 per month
• Refrigerator (17 cu. ft., 10 yrs. or older, frost-free) $17 per month
• Refrigerator (17 cu. ft., new, standard efficiency) $9 per month
• Refrigerator (17 cu. ft., new, high efficiency) $7.50 per month
• Security Light (exterior floodlight, 150 watts) 1 1/2¢ per hour
• Stereo 1¢ per hour
• Sewing Machine 1¢ per hour
• Spa (electric) 1¢ per hour
• Spa (after warm-up, electric) 6¢ per hour to maintain
• Spa (gas) $1.12 per warm up
• Spa (after warm-up, gas) 2¢ per hour to maintain
• Swimming Pool Cleaner (elec., auto., 3/4 HP) 11¢ per hour
• Swimming Pool Heater (400,000 BTU, gas) $2.52 per hour
• Swimming Pool Pump Motor (2 HP, elec.) 22¢ per hour
• Table Saw 16¢ per hour
• Television (color) 1 1/2¢ per hour
• Television (black & white) 1/2¢ per hour
• Toaster less than 1/4¢ per hour
• Toothbrush (electric) less than 1/4¢ per day
• Track lighting (interior w/ three lights, 300 watts) 3¢ per hour
• Vacuum Cleaner (standard hand-push) 11¢ per hour
• Vacuum Cleaner (portable hand-held, rechargeable) 1/4¢ per hour of use
• Videocassette Recorder 1/2¢ per hour while in use
• Video Game 2¢ per hour
• Washer (elec. water heater, warm wash, cold rinse) 21¢ per load
• Washer (gas water heater, warm wash, cold rinse) 7¢ per load

So when your kids complain about having to run back upstairs to turn off the lights, tell them the exact amount they are saving the family. If they are smart, they will probably ask to use that saved money to buy something valuable, like a carton of ice cream. Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.

Thanks Michael for talking to us about the cost of running appliances, very informative and eye opening.