What electricity rate should I use?

Q: How much money will a more efficient appliance save me per year?

The calculator converts each appliance to annual energy as kWh/yr = (watts x hours/day x days/yr) / 1000, then multiplies the kWh difference between the old and new unit by your electricity rate. For example, replacing a 1500 W unit with a 1000 W unit running 5 hours a day, 365 days a year, saves about 912 kWh, or roughly $110 at $0.12/kWh.

Q: How is the CO2 reduction estimated?

It multiplies the annual kWh saved by 0.92 lb/kWh, the US national grid-average carbon factor (EIA/EPA, roughly 2024). This is a rough national figure: coal-heavy grids such as WV, KY, and WY exceed 1.5 lb/kWh, while renewables-heavy grids like VT, ID, and WA run under 0.5, per EPA eGRID.

Question

What electricity rate should I use?

Accepted Answer

The field defaults to $0.12/kWh, a typical US residential average, but you should enter your own rate from your utility bill for an accurate dollar figure. Real-world duty cycles also often differ from rated use hours, so verify against utility data when available.

What electricity rate should I use?

Answers