Household appliances use a varied amount of electricity, depending on their efficiency. Location of an appliance can affect electricity usage. For example, a clothes dryer in an open location like a garage, is likely to be somewhat less efficient than one located in a house. Similarly, a water heater with improper insulation is likely to be less efficient and will use more electricity than a well-located and insulated water heater.

Another factor affecting electricity usage of an appliance is the age of the appliance. If your refrigerator is forty years old, chances are your electricity bills are quite high. If you have purchased a refrigerator in the US within the last five years, you are likely to have a far more energy efficient appliance, which represents significant savings on your electricity bill. Today, more and more appliances in the US are now given the Energy Star seal of approval, which guarantees less usage of electricity.

Electricity in the US is measured in kilowatts. A kilowatt costs about .06 US dollars (USD) per hour. Rates can be different depending upon where you live, and on your total electricity usage for the month. Rates vary, and increase with higher energy usage.

The average freezer and refrigerator purchased before 1985 uses about 100 kilowatt hours per month. This means you will pay approximately 6 USD per month to run a refrigerator. A refrigerator purchased after the year 2000 only uses only about 37.5 kilowatt hours per month, representing a huge savings on your electricity bills. This is the average measurement for a relatively small fridge. Larger refrigerators will use far more electricity.

Relatively new washing machines use about 360 kilowatt hours per year. Relatively new dryers use approximately 765 kilowatt hours per year. Your electric bill will usually specify exactly how many cents you are charged per kilowatt hour, which can help you determine the cost of running an appliance.

Small appliances or household electrics can often use a surprising number of kilowatt hours. A computer and monitor without sleep mode can use up over 400 kilowatt hours per year. A standing fan may use twice that.

However, large appliances like air conditioners are some of the worst consumers of electricity. Central air conditioning may use as much as 2000 kilowatt hours per year, and sometimes more. Electric furnaces are the most expensive however, using over 6000 kilowatt hours per year.

Most appliances today are now labeled with their average rate of usage, and of course, kilowatt usage can depend upon how much you use an appliance. If you rarely turn on an electric furnace, you’re not likely to use much electricity. Keeping appliances clean, and turning off appliances when not in use, like the TV or computer, can mean a little less money paid to the company supplying your electricity.

With electricity supply sometimes being exceeded by demand in heavily populated areas, it makes sense to choose appliances that will use the least amount of electricity possible.