What this calculator does
A newer, more efficient appliance uses less electricity, but it also costs money up front. This calculator compares how much electricity your old appliance and a new one use in a year, prices both at your state's average home electricity price, and shows how much you save each year and how many years it takes for the savings to pay for the new appliance.
Where to find the numbers
- The new appliance: look for the yellow EnergyGuide label. The FTC explains that it shows how much energy an appliance uses and how that compares with similar models. Refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, water heaters, room air conditioners, televisions and other products carry it. Use the yearly kWh number on the label (FTC).
- The old appliance: use its label or manual if you still have them, or the manufacturer's website for the model number.
- The price of electricity: the calculator uses the latest monthly average residential price in your state from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). For the closest result, type the price per kWh from your own bill.
The label's yearly cost is only an estimate based on typical use and a national average energy price, so your cost depends on how you use the appliance and on your local price.
How the numbers work
- Cost a year = kWh a year × price per kWh, for each appliance.
- Savings a year = old cost − new cost.
- Payback = (price of the new appliance − rebates or credits) ÷ savings a year.
- Net savings = savings a year × the years you expect to keep it − the price after rebates.
An example
An old refrigerator uses 700 kWh a year and a new one is labeled at 400 kWh. At 17.5 cents per kWh, the old one costs about $123 a year to run and the new one about $70, a saving of about $53 a year. If the new refrigerator costs $1,100, energy savings alone would take about 21 years to pay for it. If your old refrigerator is broken or near the end of its life anyway, compare instead the extra cost of the more efficient model with a basic one: a smaller price difference pays back much faster.
What ENERGY STAR means
Products with the ENERGY STAR label meet energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For example, ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators are about 9% more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum standard, and certified clothes washers use about 20% less energy and about 30% less water than regular washers (ENERGY STAR). Water savings are not included in this calculator.
Tips before you buy
- Compare models of the same size and type: a larger refrigerator usually uses more electricity.
- Ask your electric utility and your state energy office about rebates for efficient appliances, and add them in the calculator.
- Check what to do with the old appliance: some utilities and stores offer pickup or recycling.
- See what else adds to your bill with the electricity bill calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is a new energy-efficient appliance worth it?
It depends on how much electricity the old one uses, your price per kWh and the price of the new one. Energy savings alone often take many years to pay for a new appliance, so the best time to choose an efficient model is when you need to replace one anyway.
Where is the kWh number on the EnergyGuide label?
The yellow label shows the estimated yearly electricity use in kWh along with the estimated yearly operating cost. Use the kWh number, because the cost on the label uses a national average price.
Which electricity price does the calculator use?
The latest monthly average residential price for your state published by the EIA, or your own price if you type it. Your bill shows your real price per kWh.
Does it include water savings?
No. It counts electricity only. Efficient washers and dishwashers can also save water, which is not included.
Is my information saved?
No. The numbers stay in your browser and are not sent to us.