Elizabeth's post from a few weeks ago on costing out a home-cooked meal got us thinking about the average cost of running our kitchen appliances. Did you know that a slow-cooker on the high setting uses about 150 watts and costs roughly 2-cents per hour? Hear more after the jump!
Conscientious Cook: The Cost of Running Kitchen Appliances
In our research, we came across First Energy, which serves the Akron, Ohio area. They offer a handy guide that includes a breakdown of the cost to run each appliance in your house along with some tips on saving energy. (The link to this guide is at the bottom of this post.)
They estimate their costs based on 11-cents per kilowatt-hour and give instructions for how to calculate your cost if the price per kilowatt-hour is different in your area.
Here are some of their estimates:
• Refrigerator-Freezer and Auto-Defrost (20-24 cubic feet): 600 watts, $10.27/month
• Microwave Oven (estimating 30 minutes per day): 1500 watts, $2.49/month
• Garbage Disposal (estimating 5 minutes per day): 800 watts, $.22/day
• Dishwasher (wash cycle only): 300 watts, $.04/use
Some of this energy use and their prices may seem insignificant, but it does add up. We think that even trimming down use on a few appliances or switching to more energy-saving appliances can make a difference over the long run.
What do you think?
• Making Cents of Electricity from the First Energy Corporation (opens to a .pdf)
Related: Conscientious Cook: How to Start Saving Money This Week
(Image: Flickr member Andy Leitch licensed under Creative Commons)
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Conscientious Cook, Frugality, GREEN IDEAS, energy, saving money, kitchen appliancesRelated Links
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we have our toaster and microwave plugged in via a power bar, which we switch off when we're not using it.
that's our solution to appliances that suck up energy.
view jillrenee in boston's profile
Right now, I have a pretty bare kitchen. The only appliances I have, besides a stove and fridge are a toaster oven and microwave. I keep the toaster and micro unplugged all the time.
view chusmabilly's profile
Are you trying to save money or be more eco friendly?
I (having 2 finance degrees) don't buy into the buying into more energy efficient appliances helping out (pocketbook-wise) in the long run. If your appliance is dieing, or otherwise useless (it just doesn't "work" even though it works, you know?), that's one thing. But it's another to go spend $1,200 on a new refrigerator to save $50 a year in in electricity. Your current fridge is going to kaput at some point anyhow - a fridge lasts, what, 10 years? - and when it does, a new fridge is going to be saving more than $50 a year.
It's why my car isn't more fuel efficient. It would cost me $50 more in car payments to save $20 a month in gas. At the time, I don't have the room in my budget for the luxury of saving the planet.
view cara_mia's profile
Those costs seem pretty insignificant to me, so I'm not gonna sweat it. My monthly coffee budget is much higher!
view jooly's profile
Does anybody use a microwave 30 minutes a day? I might use mine 10 minutes a month. All those 30 second warm-ups.
view jakelegs's profile
I never realized all the appliance parts of kitchens cost so much, I will defiantly be researching more and trying to cut back. The government should really do more to show people how they can save energy and money.
view timada's profile