How Much Electricity Does Each Appliance Use?

The average American household spends about $1,960 per year on electricity — roughly $163 per month. Most people pay that bill without any idea which appliances are actually driving the cost. Is it the refrigerator running all day? The dryer you use twice a week? That space heater in the basement? Without knowing what uses the most electricity in your home, you're guessing at where to cut.

This guide gives you a complete appliance-by-appliance breakdown of electricity consumption and cost, calculated at the national average rate of $0.18 per kWh in 2026. You'll find wattage charts for every major household appliance, learn which devices are the biggest energy hogs, discover the hidden cost of phantom loads, and walk away with a concrete action plan to start saving. Whether you're trying to cut your electric bill in half or just figure out why your bill spiked last month, this is the reference you need.

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How to Calculate the Cost of Running Any Appliance

Before diving into the tables, here is the simple formula that powers every number in this guide. Once you know it, you can calculate the electricity cost of anything in your home:

(Wattage × Hours Used Per Day) ÷ 1,000 = Daily kWh
Daily kWh × 30 = Monthly kWh
Monthly kWh × Your Electricity Rate = Monthly Cost

Example: A 1,500-watt space heater running 4 hours per day:

• (1,500 × 4) ÷ 1,000 = 6 kWh per day
• 6 × 30 = 180 kWh per month
• 180 × $0.18 = $32.40 per month

One important note: Some appliances cycle on and off rather than running continuously. Your refrigerator, air conditioner, and water heater all work this way. The compressor in your fridge might draw 150 watts while running, but it only runs about 35 to 50 percent of the time. The numbers in the tables below account for these duty cycles and reflect real-world consumption, not just peak wattage.

You can find your exact electricity rate on your utility bill. If you are not sure how to read it, our guide on how to read your electric bill and spot overcharges walks you through every line item. Rates vary dramatically by state — a Hawaii homeowner pays over 3 times more per kWh than someone in Louisiana — so the same appliance can cost wildly different amounts depending on where you live.

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Complete Appliance Electricity Use Charts

All monthly costs below are calculated at the 2026 national average rate of $0.18/kWh. Your actual costs will be higher or lower depending on your state. For state-specific rates, check our California electricity rates guide or Texas electricity rates guide.

HVAC — 40 to 50 Percent of Your Bill

Heating and cooling is by far the largest electricity expense in the average home. If you're looking for the biggest savings, this is where to focus.

Appliance	Watts	Typical Hours/Day	Monthly kWh	Monthly Cost
Central AC (3-ton)	3,500	8 (summer)	840	$151.20
Central AC (2-ton)	2,400	8 (summer)	576	$103.68
Window AC (10,000 BTU)	1,200	8	288	$51.84
Window AC (5,000 BTU)	500	8	120	$21.60
Electric furnace	10,000–18,000	2–4 (winter)	600–2,160	$108–$389
Heat pump (whole house)	2,000–5,000	6–8	360–1,200	$64.80–$216
Space heater (portable)	1,500	4	180	$32.40
Ceiling fan	75	8	18	$3.24
Box/standing fan	100	8	24	$4.32
Whole-house fan	200–700	4	24–84	$4.32–$15.12
Dehumidifier	300–700	8	72–168	$12.96–$30.24
Air purifier	50–100	24	36–72	$6.48–$12.96

Notice the massive gap between an electric furnace and a heat pump. A heat pump uses 2 to 3 times less electricity for the same heating output because it moves heat rather than generating it. If you're heating with electric resistance, switching to a heat pump is one of the single best upgrades you can make. Our guide on heat pumps explained covers how they work and what they cost, and we also have a rundown of the best heat pumps for home in 2026.

Water Heating — 14 to 18 Percent of Your Bill

Water heating is the second-largest energy expense in most homes, and one of the easiest categories to cut with a single upgrade.

Appliance	Watts	Typical Hours/Day	Monthly kWh	Monthly Cost
Electric tank water heater (50 gal)	4,500	3	405	$72.90
Electric tankless water heater	18,000–36,000	0.5–1	270–540	$48.60–$97.20
Heat pump water heater	500–2,000	3	45–180	$8.10–$32.40

The standout here is the heat pump water heater. It uses the same technology as a heat pump HVAC system — pulling heat from the surrounding air rather than generating it with a resistance element — and it cuts water heating costs by 50 to 75 percent. At $8 to $32 per month versus $73 per month for a standard tank, the savings are dramatic. With federal tax credits covering up to $2,000 of the purchase price, the payback period is often under two years. Read our best heat pump water heaters for 2026 for specific product recommendations.

Kitchen Appliances

Appliance	Watts	Typical Hours/Day	Monthly kWh	Monthly Cost
Refrigerator (standard, modern)	150 (avg)	24 (cycles)	50–80	$9.00–$14.40
Refrigerator (older/frost-free 20 cu ft)	200 (avg)	24 (cycles)	120–205	$21.60–$36.90
Chest freezer	100	24 (cycles)	40–60	$7.20–$10.80
Upright freezer (frost-free)	150	24 (cycles)	80–120	$14.40–$21.60
Electric oven	2,500	1	75	$13.50
Electric stove (one 8" burner)	2,100	1	63	$11.34
Induction cooktop (one burner)	1,800	0.75	40.5	$7.29
Microwave oven	1,000	0.5	15	$2.70
Toaster oven	1,200	0.3	11	$1.98
Coffee maker (drip)	1,000	0.25	7.5	$1.35
Dishwasher (no heat dry)	1,200	1	36	$6.48
Dishwasher (with heat dry)	2,400	1	72	$12.96
Air fryer	1,500	0.3	13.5	$2.43
Instant Pot / pressure cooker	1,000	0.5	15	$2.70
Slow cooker	200	6	36	$6.48

Two things jump out from this table. First, older refrigerators are electricity hogs — a pre-2010 model can use 2 to 3 times more electricity than a modern Energy Star unit. Replacing an aging fridge is one of the best appliance upgrades you can make, saving $50 to $80 per year. Second, induction cooktops use roughly 35 percent less energy than traditional electric burners because they heat the pan directly rather than heating a coil first. Our guide on induction stoves vs. gas covers the full comparison.

Kitchen tip: Using a microwave, air fryer, or Instant Pot instead of the oven uses 50 to 80 percent less energy for many cooking tasks. Skip the heat-dry cycle on your dishwasher and you cut its energy use nearly in half.

Laundry

Appliance	Watts	Typical Hours/Day	Monthly kWh	Monthly Cost
Clothes washer (hot water)	500 + water heating	~0.3 per load	25–40 (8 loads/week)	$4.50–$7.20
Clothes washer (cold water)	500	~0.3 per load	5–8 (8 loads/week)	$0.90–$1.44
Electric dryer (standard)	3,000–5,000	~0.75 per load	72–120 (8 loads/week)	$12.96–$21.60
Heat pump dryer	800–1,500	~1 per load	24–45 (8 loads/week)	$4.32–$8.10
Iron	1,200	0.25	9	$1.62

The biggest takeaway: wash in cold water. Switching from hot to cold water cuts the washing machine's energy use by up to 90 percent, because almost all the energy goes to heating water, not running the motor. That one change can save $36 to $70 per year with zero impact on cleaning performance for most loads.

Heat pump dryers are also worth watching. They use 50 to 60 percent less energy than conventional dryers, though they take slightly longer per cycle. If your dryer is aging, it is one of the most cost-effective upgrades in the laundry room.

Electronics and Entertainment

Appliance	Watts	Typical Hours/Day	Monthly kWh	Monthly Cost
Desktop computer	200–400	4	24–48	$4.32–$8.64
Laptop	50–100	4	6–12	$1.08–$2.16
Gaming PC	300–500	3	27–45	$4.86–$8.10
Monitor (LED, 27")	30–50	4	3.6–6	$0.65–$1.08
TV (55" LED/OLED)	80–120	5	12–18	$2.16–$3.24
TV (65" LED/OLED)	100–150	5	15–22.5	$2.70–$4.05
Gaming console (PS5/Xbox)	100–200	2	6–12	$1.08–$2.16
Cable/satellite box + DVR	25–40	24	18–29	$3.24–$5.22
Streaming device (Roku, etc.)	3–5	5	0.5–0.75	$0.09–$0.14
Wi-Fi router	5–15	24	3.6–10.8	$0.65–$1.94
Phone charger	5	3	0.45	$0.08

Electronics individually are not expensive to run, but they add up — especially through standby power. A cable box with DVR draws 25 to 40 watts around the clock, whether you're watching or not. That is $40 to $63 per year for a device you probably use a few hours a day. More on phantom loads below.

Lighting

Bulb Type (60W equivalent)	Watts	Hours/Day	Monthly kWh	Monthly Cost
LED	9	5	1.35	$0.24
CFL	14	5	2.1	$0.38
Halogen	43	5	6.45	$1.16
Incandescent	60	5	9	$1.62
10 LED bulbs (whole home)	90 total	5	13.5	$2.43
10 incandescent bulbs (whole home)	600 total	5	90	$16.20

The comparison speaks for itself. Swapping 30 incandescent or halogen bulbs to LEDs saves a typical household $100 to $150 per year. LED bulbs last 15,000 to 25,000 hours — roughly 8 to 14 years at 5 hours per day — so you will not need to replace them often. This is one of the cheapest, fastest efficiency upgrades you can make.

Outdoor, Pool, and Miscellaneous

Appliance	Watts	Typical Hours/Day	Monthly kWh	Monthly Cost
Pool pump (1.5 HP, single speed)	1,100	8	264	$47.52
Pool pump (variable speed)	300–1,100	8	72–264	$12.96–$47.52
Hot tub / spa	3,000–7,500	4–6 (cycles)	200–400	$36.00–$72.00
EV charger (Level 2)	7,200	3	648	$116.64
Security camera system (4 cameras)	40–60	24	29–43	$5.22–$7.74
Sump pump	800	0.5	12	$2.16
Garage door opener	550	0.03	0.5	$0.09
Outdoor LED string lights (48 ft)	30	5	4.5	$0.81

Pool pumps are a hidden energy hog. Upgrading from a single-speed to a variable-speed pump can cut pool electricity costs by 50 to 70 percent — saving $400 or more per year in warm climates. Many states also offer rebates on variable-speed pump upgrades.

EV charging is another large load that benefits enormously from time-of-use rate optimization. Shifting your charging to off-peak hours (typically 9 PM to 6 AM) can cut the cost per charge by 40 to 60 percent in areas with TOU pricing.

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The Top 10 Biggest Energy Hogs in Your Home

If you want to focus your effort where it matters most, here are the 10 appliances that consume the most electricity in a typical home, ranked by monthly kWh:

Rank	Appliance	Monthly kWh	Monthly Cost	% of Avg Bill
1	Central air conditioning	576–840	$104–$151	35–51%
2	Electric furnace	600–2,160	$108–$389	37–132%*
3	EV charger (Level 2, daily)	~648	~$117	40%
4	Electric tank water heater	~405	~$73	25%
5	Pool pump (single speed)	~264	~$48	16%
6	Hot tub / spa	200–400	$36–$72	12–24%
7	Space heater	~180	~$32	11%
8	Refrigerator (older model)	120–205	$22–$37	7–13%
9	Electric clothes dryer	72–120	$13–$22	4–7%
10	Electric oven	~75	~$14	5%

*An electric furnace running at high capacity in winter can exceed the average total bill by itself — which is why many homes with electric furnaces see winter bills of $300 to $500.

The key insight: HVAC and water heating together account for 55 to 70 percent of the average home's electricity bill. Upgrading those two systems — particularly by switching to heat pumps — provides by far the biggest return on investment. Everything else is optimization around the margins by comparison.

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Phantom Loads: The Hidden Cost of "Off" Appliances

Here is a number that surprises most people: appliances you think are turned off are still costing you $100 to $200 per year. This is called phantom load, vampire power, or standby draw — the electricity devices consume while plugged in but not actively in use. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates phantom loads account for 5 to 10 percent of the average home's total electricity use.

The Worst Phantom Load Offenders

Device	Standby Watts	Annual Vampire Cost
Cable/satellite box + DVR	20–35 W	$32–$55
Audio receiver / soundbar	5–15 W	$8–$24
Game console (instant-on mode)	10–15 W	$16–$24
Desktop computer (sleep mode)	5–10 W	$8–$16
Modem + router combo	8–12 W	$13–$19
Garage door opener (standby)	4–7 W	$6–$11
Microwave (clock display)	2–5 W	$3–$8
Printer (standby)	3–5 W	$5–$8
Coffee maker (with clock)	1–4 W	$2–$6
TV (standby)	1–5 W	$2–$8
Smart speaker	2–4 W	$3–$6
Phone charger (no phone)	0.1–0.5 W	$0.15–$0.75

Quick Vampire Load Math

A typical home entertainment center — TV, soundbar, game console, DVR, and streaming box all in standby — draws 40 to 70 watts combined. That is $63 to $110 per year for devices that are sitting "off."

A home office setup — desktop, monitor, printer, and speakers — adds another 15 to 25 watts in standby, costing $24 to $39 per year.

The fix is straightforward: smart power strips and smart plugs with energy monitoring can eliminate most phantom loads automatically. Put your entertainment center on a smart strip, schedule it to cut power at bedtime, and you'll save $60 to $100 per year with no change in your daily routine.

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How Your State's Electricity Rate Changes the Math

The same appliance costs dramatically different amounts to run depending on where you live. Electricity rates in 2026 range from under 12 cents per kWh in states like Louisiana and Idaho to nearly 40 cents per kWh in Hawaii. Here is how that plays out for common appliances:

State	Rate (¢/kWh)	Fridge (80 kWh/mo)	Central AC (840 kWh/mo)	Dryer (96 kWh/mo)	Annual Bill (900 kWh/mo)
Idaho	11.7¢	$9.36	$98.28	$11.23	$1,264
Louisiana	12.4¢	$9.92	$104.16	$11.90	$1,339
North Dakota	12.8¢	$10.24	$107.52	$12.29	$1,382
National Avg	18.1¢	$14.48	$152.04	$17.38	$1,955
Connecticut	29.6¢	$23.68	$248.64	$28.42	$3,197
Massachusetts	31.5¢	$25.20	$264.60	$30.24	$3,402
California	33.8¢	$27.04	$283.92	$32.45	$3,650
Hawaii	39.9¢	$31.92	$335.16	$38.30	$4,309

A Hawaii homeowner running the exact same appliances as a Louisiana homeowner pays over 3 times more for electricity. Efficiency upgrades and energy awareness have a much bigger ROI in high-cost states. If you live in California or the Northeast, every kilowatt-hour you save is worth nearly double the national average. Check our California electricity rates guide and Texas electricity rates guide for state-specific strategies.

National average rates climbed from 17.11 cents to 18.05 cents between 2025 and 2026 — a 5.4 percent increase. The biggest jumps hit California (+8.9%), Rhode Island (+8.4%), and Maine (+8.1%), driven by rising natural gas prices, grid modernization costs, data center power demand, and extreme weather hardening investments.

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How to Measure Your Own Appliance Usage

The tables above show averages, but your appliances may use more or less depending on their age, model, settings, and how often you use them. Here is how to get your exact numbers.

Plug-In Power Meters

The simplest approach is a plug-in watt meter. You plug it into the wall, then plug your appliance into it. The meter displays real-time wattage and tracks cumulative kWh over time.

• P3 Kill A Watt (~$22–$30) — The classic choice. Shows watts, amps, volts, and kWh in real time. Simple, reliable, no app needed.
• P3 Kill A Watt EZ (~$30–$40) — Same as above plus a built-in cost calculator. Enter your electricity rate and it shows you the dollar cost directly.
• Mecheer Watt Meter (~$15–$20) — A budget alternative with a backlit display and overload protection.

How to use them: Plug the meter in, connect your appliance, and let it run for at least 24 hours. For cycling appliances like refrigerators and freezers, let it run a full 7 days for an accurate average. Then multiply the daily kWh by 30 to get your monthly consumption.

Free alternative: Many public libraries loan Kill A Watt meters for free. Check your local library's "Library of Things" catalog before buying one.

Smart Plugs With Energy Monitoring

If you want ongoing tracking rather than a one-time measurement, smart plugs with energy monitoring are the way to go. They measure consumption continuously, log historical data in an app, and let you automate shutoff schedules to eliminate phantom loads.

• Kasa Smart Plug KP125M (~$20 each, $40 for a 2-pack) — Matter-compatible, real-time wattage, historical data, scheduling, works with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home. No subscription.
• Eve Energy Smart Plug (~$35) — Thread + Matter enabled, best Apple Home integration, detailed energy reports.
• Kasa Smart Plug EP25 (~$15–$20) — Wi-Fi, energy monitoring, compact design. A solid budget option.

Smart plugs pull double duty: they measure your usage and help you reduce it by cutting phantom loads on a schedule. For a full breakdown of smart plug strategies, see our smart home energy management guide.

Whole-Home Energy Monitors

For the complete picture — every circuit in your home, in real time — a whole-home energy monitor installed at your breaker panel is the gold standard.

• Emporia Vue 3 (~$100–$200 depending on circuit count) — Clips onto your breaker panel and monitors up to 16 individual circuits. Real-time app, no subscription, solar compatible. This is the monitor we recommend for most households. Read our full best home energy monitors 2026 guide for the detailed review.
• affiliate:sense-energy-monitor (~$300) — Uses AI to detect individual devices from your main electrical lines. Deeper analytics but mixed reviews on detection accuracy.

A whole-home monitor pays for itself quickly. Studies show households reduce consumption by 8 to 15 percent after installing one, which translates to $160 to $300 per year in savings. At $100 to $200 for the Emporia Vue 3, you're looking at a payback period of well under a year.

Free option: Check your utility's online portal. Many utilities with smart meters now offer hourly and daily usage breakdowns at no cost. It is not as granular as a dedicated monitor, but it is a good starting point.

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Energy Star vs. Standard: How Much Do Efficient Appliances Actually Save?

When shopping for new appliances, you will see the Energy Star label everywhere. But how much does it actually save you?

Appliance	Energy Star Savings vs Standard	Annual Savings	Lifetime Savings
Refrigerator	9% less energy	$8–$15	$100–$200
Clothes washer	20% less energy, 30% less water	$25–$50	~$550
Clothes dryer	20% less energy	$15–$25	$180–$210
Dishwasher	12% less energy, 30% less water	$10–$20	$130+
Window AC	10% less energy	$10–$30	$100–$300
Dehumidifier	15% less energy	$10–$20	$100+
Full kitchen + laundry upgrade	—	$60–$110	~$750+

The savings from any single Energy Star appliance are moderate — $10 to $50 per year. The real payoff comes from two scenarios. First, upgrading an entire kitchen and laundry suite saves $60 to $110 per year cumulatively. Second, and more importantly, replacing old appliances (10+ years) delivers far bigger savings because older models can be 30 to 50 percent less efficient than current Energy Star standards.

The single biggest upgrade: Replacing a pre-2010 refrigerator with a current Energy Star model can save $50 to $80 per year by itself. Old refrigerators are notorious energy wasters, and since they run around the clock, every inefficiency compounds over 8,760 hours per year.

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Automating Savings With Smart Plugs and Power Strips

Knowing which appliances use the most electricity is step one. Step two is taking action — and smart plugs make the easiest savings automatic.

Five Automations That Pay for Themselves

1. Entertainment center: Put the TV, soundbar, game console, and streaming box on a Kasa Smart Power Strip (~$35). Schedule all power off at 11 PM. Saves $60–$100/year.

2. Home office: Group the computer, monitor, printer, and speakers on a smart strip. Schedule power off at 6 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends. Saves $22–$37/year.

3. Coffee maker: A Kasa Smart Plug KP125M on the coffee maker schedules it on at 6 AM and off at 8 AM. No more phantom load from the clock display running all day. Saves $5–$10/year.

4. Charger station: Smart plug on your phone and tablet chargers, scheduled off overnight when they are not in use. Saves $4–$7/year.

5. Guest room / seasonal spaces: Smart plugs on TVs and electronics in rooms you rarely use. Keep power off by default, turn on with one tap when guests arrive. Saves $15–$30/year.

The Bottom Line on Smart Plug Savings

Setup	Eliminated Standby Draw	Annual Savings
Entertainment center	40–70 W	$63–$110
Home office	15–25 W	$24–$39
Kitchen small appliance plugs	5–10 W	$8–$16
Charger station	3–5 W	$5–$8
Total	63–110 W	$100–$173

The cost to set all of this up: roughly $60 to $100 in smart plugs and strips. Payback period: under one year. After that, it is pure savings with zero effort on your part. For more strategies, our smart home energy management guide covers the full automation playbook.

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Category-by-Category Tips to Reduce Your Electricity Use

HVAC — The Biggest Savings Opportunity

• Set your thermostat to 78°F in summer and 68°F in winter. Each degree of adjustment saves roughly 3 percent on heating and cooling costs.
• Install a smart thermostat — they save 10 percent on average, roughly $100 to $150 per year.
• Change HVAC air filters every 1 to 3 months. Dirty filters force your system to work harder.
• Use ceiling fans to supplement AC. They let you feel 4°F cooler, so you can set the thermostat higher.
• Seal air leaks around windows and doors with caulk and weatherstripping kit (~$8–$15).
• Add attic insulation if yours is below R-38. The payback period is typically 1 to 3 years.
• Consider a heat pump upgrade — 2 to 3 times more efficient than electric resistance heating. Learn more in our heat pumps explained guide.

Water Heating

• Lower your tank temperature to 120°F. Factory defaults are often set to 140°F, which wastes energy and money.
• Insulate the water heater tank and the first 6 feet of hot water pipes.
• Fix leaky hot water faucets — a single drip wastes 1,661 gallons per year.
• Consider a heat pump water heater — saves $300 to $500 per year versus electric resistance.
• Use cold water for laundry whenever possible (saves up to 90% of the energy per load).

Kitchen

• Run the dishwasher only when full and skip the heat-dry cycle — air drying saves 15 to 50 percent per cycle.
• Use the microwave, air fryer, or Instant Pot instead of the oven — 50 to 80 percent less energy for many tasks.
• Keep the fridge at 37°F and the freezer at 0°F. Colder settings waste energy with no food safety benefit.
• Clean refrigerator condenser coils once a year.
• Match pot size to burner size on the stove — a small pot on a large burner wastes heat.

Laundry

• Wash clothes in cold water — saves up to 90 percent of the energy per load.
• Run full loads whenever possible.
• Clean the dryer lint trap before every load. A clogged trap increases drying time and energy use.
• Use wool dryer balls (~$10 for a 6-pack) to reduce drying time by 10 to 25 percent.
• Air-dry clothes when weather permits.

Electronics

• Enable sleep or hibernate mode on computers — it cuts standby draw from 60–200 watts to 2–5 watts.
• Use smart power strips for entertainment centers to auto-cut standby power.
• Set game consoles to "energy saving" mode instead of "instant on." Xbox instant-on mode draws 10 to 15 watts around the clock.
• Unplug chargers when not actively charging a device.

Lighting

• Replace all remaining incandescent and halogen bulbs with LED light bulbs — a household with 30 bulbs saves roughly $100 to $150 per year.
• Use motion sensors for outdoor and utility area lights.
• Install dimmer switches in living areas.
• Use timers or smart bulbs to automate schedules and avoid leaving lights on in empty rooms.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What appliance uses the most electricity in a home?

Central air conditioning is the single largest electricity consumer in most American homes, using 576 to 840 kWh per month during summer — which translates to $104 to $151 at the national average rate. In homes with electric furnaces, winter heating can actually exceed summer cooling costs, consuming 600 to 2,160 kWh per month.

Does leaving things plugged in use electricity?

Yes. Most electronics draw power even when turned "off" — this is called phantom load or vampire power. The average home wastes $100 to $200 per year on phantom loads. The worst offenders are cable boxes, game consoles in instant-on mode, and desktop computers in sleep mode. Using smart power strips that cut power on a schedule is the easiest way to eliminate this waste.

How much does it cost to run a space heater all day?

A standard 1,500-watt space heater running 8 hours per day costs roughly $2.16 per day or $64.80 per month at the national average rate of $0.18/kWh. Running it 24 hours a day would cost about $6.48 per day or $194 per month. Space heaters can quickly become the most expensive appliance in your home during winter — they are best used for targeted heating in a single room, not whole-house heating.

Is it cheaper to run the dishwasher or wash dishes by hand?

An Energy Star dishwasher is almost always cheaper. A modern dishwasher uses 3 to 5 gallons of water per cycle, while hand-washing the same load typically uses 20 to 27 gallons. Skip the heat-dry cycle (air dry instead) and the dishwasher costs about $6.48 per month in electricity. Add in the water and water-heating savings, and the dishwasher wins by a wide margin.

How much electricity does a TV use?

A modern 55-inch LED or OLED TV uses 80 to 120 watts while on, costing roughly $2.16 to $3.24 per month at 5 hours of daily viewing. That is quite modest. The bigger concern is standby power — many TVs draw 1 to 5 watts 24/7 when "off," which adds $2 to $8 per year. Using a smart plug to cut power when you are done watching eliminates this waste.

How much money can I save with LED bulbs?

Replacing a single 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 9-watt LED equivalent saves about $1.38 per month (or $16.56 per year) at 5 hours of daily use and $0.18/kWh. Scale that across 20 to 30 bulbs in a typical home and you're looking at $100 to $150 in annual savings. LED bulbs also last 15 to 25 times longer than incandescents, saving you money on replacements.

Does an energy monitor really save money?

Yes. Research from utilities shows that households using energy monitors reduce consumption by 8 to 15 percent in the first year. On a $163/month average bill, that is $156 to $293 in annual savings. The most popular option, the Emporia Vue 3, costs $100 to $200 and typically pays for itself within 6 to 12 months.

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Your Appliance Energy Action Plan

You do not need to tackle everything at once. Here is a prioritized plan based on impact and cost:

This Weekend (Free)

1. Adjust your thermostat — 78°F summer, 68°F winter.
2. Switch your washing machine to cold water.
3. Turn off heat-dry on the dishwasher.
4. Check your water heater temperature — lower to 120°F if it is higher.
5. Set game consoles to energy-saving mode.

This Month (Under $50)

1. Replace remaining incandescent bulbs with LEDs.
2. Buy a P3 Kill A Watt (~$25) and measure your biggest appliances.
3. Add wool dryer balls to the dryer.
4. Install weatherstripping kit on drafty doors and windows.

This Quarter (Under $200)

1. Install smart plugs on your entertainment center and home office — Kasa Smart Plug KP125M 2-packs are ~$40.
2. Install an Emporia Vue 3 whole-home energy monitor (~$100–$200) and identify your actual top energy consumers.
3. Switch to a time-of-use rate plan if your utility offers one.

This Year (Major Upgrades)

1. Replace your old refrigerator with an Energy Star model (saves $50–$80/year).
2. Install a smart thermostat (saves $100–$150/year).
3. Consider a heat pump water heater (saves $300–$500/year) — federal tax credits cover up to $2,000.
4. If your HVAC system is aging, explore heat pump options for your next replacement.

The total potential savings from this action plan: $400 to $900 per year, depending on your current setup and electricity rate. In high-cost states like California or Massachusetts, the savings can exceed $1,000 annually.

Start with the free changes today. Every kilowatt-hour you do not use is money that stays in your pocket.