How to calculate???

esmf73

:(Hi, This is going to sound silly, but I wonder if you lovely people could help me?
How do I calculate how much it costs me to use an item - say the dishwasher - in my house?

Please provide an idiots guide. Thank you very much.
Emma

Cardew

There is no easy answer as it depends on 3 factors

1. The make/model of appliance

2. The program you set on appliance

3. The price you pay for electricity

The handbook of your appliance will normally give the power consumption in kWh and there are plenty of websites that give typical consumption figures. www.sust-it.net is one although their electricity costs are high.

If you work on a kWh of electricity costs 10p, a washing machine is between 3p and 12p a cycle, Dishwasher 10p to 15p, TV about 1.5p an hour(not plasma)

macman

A unit of electricity is priced in kilowatt hours (1000 watts for one hour would be the same as 100 watts for 10 hours). So the cost is the consumption in kilowatts x the time it's on x the cost per kWh.
So a 1 bar electric fire rated at 1kW (1000 watts) would use 1kWh and would cost (at 10p a unit) 10p per hour.
It's more complicated with items that are thermostatically controlled, as the power will cycle on and off with the 'stat.
Most electrical devices will have the power rating stamped on them somewhere.