Appliance Energy Use
I'm often asked which appliances use the most energy and what Energy Star appliances should I buy. The easy answer is to always buy Energy Star appliances because the energy efficiencies are higher for little extra cost.
Appliances and lighting make up about 26% of the energy consumed in an average household. We are aware of the heating and cooling systems when they run because we can feel them but we rarely think about the refrigerator or freezer that runs all of the time. In general, there has been enough improvement in efficiency in the last ten years that any appliance ten years old or older should be replaced with a new Energy Star appliance.
| Appliance | Cost/Month | Annual Cost |
| Hot Tub | 54 | 432 |
| Dehumidifier | 78 | 388 |
| Swimming Pool Pump | 86 | 350 |
| Refrigerator or Freezer | 29 | 345 |
| Electric Space Heater | 64 | 260 |
| Dryer | 18 | 216 |
| Waterbed | 22 | 210 |
| Clothes Washer | 14 | 173 |
| Electric Oven | 14 | 163 |
| Aquarium | 13 | 156 |
| Well Pump | 11 | 130 |
| TV | 8 | 104 |
| Computer | 8 | 104 |
| Microwave | 4 | 50 |
13 cents per kilowatt hour is the average price of electricity in the South and used to get the monthly cost.
Annual cost is based on monthly cost times the number of months that they would be used.