When it comes to energy usage, many of us only think about the big-ticket items, such as air conditioning units, refrigerators, and washing machines. However, smaller appliances, like a garage door opener, can also eat up a significant amount of energy. In this article, we will explore the energy consumption of a garage door opener, its impact on our daily lives, and how we can save money on our energy bills.
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.
Why Energy Consumption Matters
While the energy consumption of a garage door opener may seem small in comparison to other appliances, its cumulative effect can add up over time. With the average American household having 1-2 garage door openers, the energy usage can have a significant impact on both the environment and our wallets.
In addition, many of us are working from home due to the pandemic, which means that our energy usage has increased. The more energy we use, the more greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. By reducing our energy consumption, we can do our part in protecting the environment.
Cost in Dollars of Energy Usage
To calculate the cost in dollars of using a garage door opener, we need to know the wattage of the appliance and the current energy price. In this case, the garage door opener uses 300 watts, and the current energy price is $0.12/kWh.
To calculate the cost per hour, we can use the following formula:
Cost per Hour = Wattage ÷ 1000 x Energy PricePlugging in the values, we get:
Cost per Hour = 300 ÷ 1000 x 0.12 = $0.036Therefore, if you use your garage door opener for 1 hour per day, it would cost you $0.036 per day, $1.08 per month, and $13.14 per year.
Of course, your actual usage may vary depending on how often you use your garage door opener, but this gives you a rough estimate of the cost.
Money Saving Tips
Now that we know how much it costs to use a garage door opener, let’s explore some ways to save money on our energy bills.
- Replace your old garage door opener with a newer, energy-efficient model. These models use less energy and can save you money in the long run.
- Install weather stripping around your garage door to prevent air leaks. A well-insulated garage can keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, reducing the need for heating and cooling.
- Use the manual release cord to open and close your garage door manually. This is especially useful during power outages.
- Consider installing a timer or motion sensor to automatically turn off your garage door opener after a certain amount of time.
- Keep your garage door and opener well-maintained to ensure that it is running smoothly and efficiently.
By following these money-saving tips, you can reduce your energy consumption and save money on your energy bills. Small changes can make a big impact in the long run.
