How to Calculate Electricity Consumption in Your Home?
Knowing how much electricity your appliances consume can help you control your expenses and make smart decisions about energy use. With a simple calculation, you can estimate how much electricity each device uses and how much that represents on your monthly bill.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you do it.
Basic Formula to Calculate Electricity Consumption
To find out how much energy an appliance uses, you can use the following formula:
Consumption (kWh) = Power (W) × Usage Time (h) ÷ 1,000
- Power (W): This is the amount of energy the appliance uses per hour. You can find this information on the equipment label or in the manual.
- Usage Time (h): This is the number of hours you use the appliance per day.
- 1,000: Divide by one thousand to convert watts (W) to kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is the unit electricity companies use for billing.
Step-by-Step: Example Calculation
Imagine you have an air conditioner that uses 1,200 W (1.2 kW) and you use it for 6 hours a day:
- Multiply the power by the daily usage time: 1,200 W × 6 h = 7,200 Wh (watt-hours)
- Convert to kilowatt-hours (kWh): 7,200 ÷ 1,000 = 7.2 kWh per day
- Multiply by the number of days in a month (assuming 30 days): 7.2 × 30 = 216 kWh per month
Calculate the monthly cost (average rate in Panama: $0.17/kWh):
216 × 0.17 = $36.72 per month
This is how you can estimate the cost of each appliance in your home.
Average Consumption Table for Common Household Appliances
| Appliance | Average Power (W) | Daily Use (h) | Monthly Consumption (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fridge |
150 W |
24 h |
108 kWh |
|
Washing Machine |
500 W |
1 h |
15 kWh |
|
Air Conditioner
|
1,200 W |
6 h |
216 kWh |
|
LED TV |
100 W |
5 h |
15 kWh |
|
Microwave |
1,000 W |
0.5 h |
15 kWh |
Why Is It Useful to Make This Calculation?
- It helps you identify which appliances consume the most energy.
- It allows you to make decisions about changing habits or replacing equipment with more efficient models.
- You can detect unusual consumption and take preventive action.
At Refriparts Panama, we are committed to energy efficiency and household savings. If you have questions about your appliances’ energy use or want preventive maintenance to improve their efficiency, our team is ready to help you.
Start controlling your electricity consumption today!