Kilowatt Hours Per Month for Appliance Use

Electrical Consumption of Appliances

• The hot water heater uses more energy than any other home appliance, consuming an average of 192 kilowatt hours per month, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The dryer comes in second, at 83 kWh per month, followed by the refrigerator, at 54 kWh. Desktop computers consume an average of 21 kWh, while televisions use about 17 kWh monthly. Microwaves consume 12.5 kWh on average, while dishwashers and washing machines use around 12 kWh monthly.

Estimating kWh

• If you can find the wattage of your appliances, you can estimate the number of kWh the appliance consumes each month. Start by examining the appliance or your user's manual to find the wattage, then multiply this number by the number of hours you use the appliance each day. Divide by 1,000 to find daily kWh, then multiply by 30 to find monthly kWh. For example, consider a microwave rated at 750 watts. If you use your microwave for 30 minutes each day, multiply 750 times 0.5 to get 375, then divide by 1,000 to get 0.375 kWh per day. Multiply by 30 to get 11.25 kWh each month.

Costs

• By knowing how many kWh hours your appliances consume each month, you can estimate the operating cost of each of these appliances. Refer to your electrical bill to find the charge per kWh in your area, or use the average U.S. price of $0.116 per kWh as of March 2013 as a guide. If your microwave uses 11.25 kWh each month, you'll spend about $1.31 to run your microwave each month if you pay the average rate. Keep in mind that electricity prices vary significantly by state. In Hawaii, the cost per kWh is $0.366 as of March 2013, compared to just $0.0825 in North Dakota. The same 11.25 kWh of microwave use would cost $4.12 in Hawaii or $0.93 in North Dakota.

Lower Your Electrical Use

• Appliances account for about 13 percent of home energy use in the average household, reports the DOE. By taking steps to improve energy efficiency and cut appliance use, you can reduce the number of kWh devoted to appliance use each month. Start by eliminating phantom loads, or electricity consumed when the appliance is turned off. Unplug appliances you use infrequently, or use power strips to switch off power to the unit when you're not using it. Take advantage of sleep or power saver modes, if applicable. The DOE suggests that you can save $100 each year just by setting your computer to go to sleep when not in use. If your local utility offers tiered electricity rates late at night or during specified hours, try to run dishwashers and other appliances at off-peak times to take advantage of lower rates. Finally, look for energy efficient appliances, and maintain them per the manufacturer's recommendations. While these appliance may cost more up front, the monthly cost savings may make the unit more affordable than less efficient units over time.