Electric water heaters have become a popular choice for many households, with the convenience of hot water on demand. However, with this convenience comes the cost of energy consumption. In this article, we will discuss the energy consumption and cost of using an electric water heater, as well as tips to save money on your energy bill.
How To Use This Calculator
Using this energy calculator is a simple and will help you determine the costs of running your appliance. Click on ‘Calculate’ to use the predefined values, or enter your daily usage in hours, appliance watts, and your current energy costs in dollars. The calculator will provide you with the daily, monthly, and yearly results. It’s important to ensure the accuracy of the information entered to get the most accurate results.
Hours Used Per Day
Enter the number of hours you estimate the appliance will be on throughout the day. To use fractions of an hour please use a decimal point in the form.
For example: 1 hour and 30 mintes would be 1.5, and 3 hours and 15 minutes would be 3.25
Power Used in Watts
The calculator already includes a default average wattage. If your appliance uses a different wattage then enter it in the calculator.
Your Energy Rate in kWh
The calculator includes an average energy rate (price in $/kWh) to use for the calculation. This may not be the exact price that you’re currently paying for electricity. If you know your energy rate please enter your price per kilowatt-hour.
Energy Consumption:
Electric water heaters use a significant amount of energy to heat water. The amount of energy used depends on the size of the water heater and the desired temperature of the water. For example, a 4000-watt electric water heater will use 4 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy per hour. If you use your water heater for an average of 3 hours per day, that’s 12 kWh per day.
To put this into perspective, a 60-watt light bulb uses 0.06 kWh per hour, while an electric dryer uses around 3.3 kWh per load. This means that using an electric water heater is a significant energy draw on your home.
Importance Today
The cost of energy consumption is becoming increasingly important as more and more people are becoming conscious of their carbon footprint and energy usage. Furthermore, electricity prices are on the rise, making it more important to save money on energy bills.
Cost in Dollars of Energy Usage
To calculate the cost of energy usage for your electric water heater, you need to multiply the energy usage (in kWh) by the cost per kWh. Assuming an energy price of $0.12 per kWh, a 4000-watt electric water heater will cost around $1.44 per 3 hours to run. This equates to approximately $43.20 per month or $518.40 per year if used for 3 hours per day.
Money Saving Tips
Here are some tips to save money on your electric water heater energy bill:
- Turn down the thermostat: Lowering the water temperature by just a few degrees can significantly reduce energy usage and costs. For example, lowering the temperature from 140°F to 120°F can save up to $60 per year.
- Insulate your tank: Insulating your water heater tank can help reduce heat loss, which means your water heater won’t need to work as hard to maintain the desired temperature. This can save you up to 9% on your water heating costs.
- Use a timer: Using a timer to turn off your water heater during the times when you don’t need hot water (e.g., while you’re at work) can significantly reduce energy usage and costs.
- Fix leaks: Leaks in your hot water system can waste both water and energy. Fixing leaks can save you both money and water.
- Upgrade to a more efficient model: If your water heater is old and inefficient, upgrading to a more efficient model can save you money on your energy bill.
In conclusion, electric water heaters are a convenient way to access hot water on demand, but they also come with a cost. By understanding energy consumption and implementing money-saving tips, you can reduce your energy costs and help the environment.
