The test results required by the US Department of Energy (DOE) of all manufacturers of major home appliances are displayed on the yellow EnergyGuide label.
This label includes:
- An estimate of how much energy the appliance uses
- Compares energy use of similar products
- Lists approximate annual operating costs (exact costs depend on your utility rates and type and source of your energy)
An ENERGYSTAR® qualified appliance must carry the EnergyGuide label.
Following are some simple steps for you to determine the actual cost of an appliance over a specific amount of time.
Step 1 What is the wattage of the appliance? (Typically found on the appliance serial plate - If not, the equation is: Watts = Volts x Amps)
Step 2 What is the average cost of a kilowatt hour? Equation: Average kWh cost = Recent electric bill / kilowatt hours used for the month. Example: $96 bill using 1200 kWh for the month = $0.08 per kW
Step 3 What is the kilowatt hour use of an appliance? Equation: kWh use = Watts x Hours / 1000
Step 4 What is the cost to use an appliance? (Examples below)