Some household appliances have a bigger appetite for energy than others.
By monitoring what appliances are on at any given time and keeping an eye on your electric meter, you can track changes in your household’s energy usage.
Use the guidelines below to determine how your appliances compare to the average American’s:
Water Heater (average cost per month)
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One-person household: $11.29
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Two-person household: $22.58
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Three-person household: $33.87
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Four-person household: $45.16
HVAC Systems (average cost per month)
Air Conditioner or Heat Pump (SEER 9)
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800 sq. ft.: $89.60
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1200 sq. ft.: $134.40
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1600 sq. ft.: $179.20
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2000 sq. ft.: $224.00
Air Conditioner or Heat Pump (SEER 13)
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800 sq. ft.: $48.74
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1200 sq. ft.: $73.11
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1600 sq. ft.: $97.28
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2000 sq. ft.: $121.85
Central Strip Heat
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800 sq. ft.: $224.00
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1200 sq. ft.: $336.00
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1600 sq. ft.: $448.00
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2000 sq. ft.: $560.00
Ceiling Fan
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Ceiling Fan: $1.85
Kitchen Appliances (average cost per month)
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Refrigerator: $11.50 – $14.00
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Upright freezer: $7.14 – $9.28
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Chest freezer: $4.33 – $5.63
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Dishwasher: $4.44 – $8.87
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Oven/range: $3.21 – $3.55
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Microwave: $0.79 – $1.16
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Toaster oven: $1.29 – $1.58
Small Appliances (average cost per month)
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Clock Radio: $1.01 – $4.03
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Hair Dryer: $0.50 – $0.79
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Iron: $0.28 – $0.50
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Radio/Stereo: $0.29 – $1.68
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Vacuum Cleaner: $0.28 – $0.40
Clothes Washer (average cost per load)
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Cold Wash and cold Rinse: $0.04
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Warm Wash and Cold Rinse: $0.30
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Hot Wash and Cold Rinse: $0.57
Clothes Dryer (average cost per load)
Clothes Dryer: $0.70
Electronics (average cost per month)
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Television (19″ to 36″), 150 hours: $1.37 – $2.79
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LCD television (42″), 150 hours: $3.15
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Plasma television (42″), 150 hours: $5.25
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Personal computer, 60 hours: $1.01
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Personal computer (stand by), 720 hours: $3.02
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Computer monitor, 60 hours: $1.26
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Computer monitor (stand by) for 720 hours: $3.02