Consider energy use before you take out your wallet
By Deborah S. Tukua www.hollycreekbooks.com
When shopping for a new home appliance, it’s a good idea to consider how much energy it consumes. For example:
- A front load washing machine is cheaper to run than a top loader.
- A laser printer costs more to run than the computer does.
- An electric hair dryer costs more to run than the refrigerator and is almost as expensive to run as the oven!
Below, are the typical annual energy costs of appliances, based on a rate of 6 cents per kilowatt-hour for a family of four living in an 1,800-square-foot home in the Tennessee Valley Authority's service area. Actual costs may be more or less in your area.
Kitchen
Blender: 18 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $1.10 a year
Coffee maker: 328 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $19.78 a year
Dishwasher: 195 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $11.77 a year
Electric frying pan: 125 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $7.53 a year
Microwave: 312 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $18.84 a year · Mixer: 7 kilowatt-hours annual use -- 40 cents a year
Cook-top range: 325 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $19.62 a year
Oven: 910 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $54.94 a year
Refrigerator and freezer: 420 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $25.36 a year
Toaster: 57 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $3.45 a year
Toaster oven: 312 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $18.84 a year
Trash compactor: 21 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $1.26 a year
Waffle iron: 312 kilowatt-hours annual use -$18.84 a year
Water heater · Less than 30 gallons: 3,744 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $226.03 a year, 30-49 gallons: 3,826 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $230.98 a year
General appliances
Clock radio: 2 kilowatt-hours annual use -- 10 cents a year
Large television: 364 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $21.97 a year
Small television: 182 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $10.99 a year
CD, DVD, VCR players: 22 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $1.33 a year
Vacuum cleaner: 218 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $13.18 a year
Hair dryer: 686 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $41.44 a year
Electric shaver: 4 kilowatt-hours annual use -- 24 cents a year
Stereo: 42 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $2.51 a year
Iron: 312 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $18.84 a year
Electric blanket: 117 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $7.06 a year
Curling iron: 18 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $1.11 a year
Home office
Computer: 961 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $58.01 a year
Small-sized printer: 156 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $9.44 a year
Printer, medium: 184 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $11.10 a year
Laser printer, small: 1,173 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $70.82 a year
Laser printer, medium: 1,568 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $94.68 a year
Small multi-function (print, scan, copy, fax): 119 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $7.18 a year
Medium multi-function (print, scan, copy, fax): 171 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $10.30 a year
Lighting · Incandescent bulb (75 watts): 273 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $16.48 a year
Compact fluorescent bulb (20 watts): 73 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $4.39 a year
Laundry
Washer: 118 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $7.12 a year
Dryer: 324 kilowatt-hours annual use -- $19.59 a year
Source: TVA energy cost calculator, as published in Times Daily Newspaper.
