Ironing clothes is a daily routine for many people. It is necessary to keep clothes looking neat and presentable. However, it is important to be aware of the amount of energy consumed by irons and the subsequent costs associated with their usage. In this article, we will explore the energy consumption and cost of using an iron, and provide tips on how to reduce energy usage and save money.
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
An iron typically uses 1200 watts of power. When it is turned on, it draws electricity from the grid, which is then converted into heat. This heat is used to smooth out wrinkles and creases in clothing. While ironing, the iron continuously heats and cools, depending on the temperature dial setting, making it one of the most energy-intensive household appliances.
To put this into perspective, consider a 60-watt light bulb. If left on for an hour, it would consume 60 watt-hours of energy. In comparison, an iron uses 1200 watts, so if used for an hour, it would consume 1200 watt-hours (or 1.2 kilowatt-hours) of energy. This is a significant amount of energy, and with continuous usage, can lead to increased energy bills.
Importance and Relevance
The energy consumption of household appliances, including irons, is an increasingly important issue in today’s world. As energy prices continue to rise, it is important to be mindful of the amount of energy consumed and the associated costs. Many households struggle to pay their energy bills, and by reducing energy usage, we can help to reduce the overall cost of energy.
In addition, being energy-efficient is an important step towards reducing our carbon footprint. By reducing our energy consumption and choosing more energy-efficient appliances, we can help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, which in turn helps to slow down climate change.
Cost in Dollars of Energy Usage
To calculate the cost of using an iron, we need to know the current energy price. Assuming the current energy price is $0.12/kWh, we can calculate the costs of using an iron as follows:
- Daily cost: 1.2 kWh x $0.12/kWh = $0.14/day
- Monthly cost (assuming 30 days): $0.14/day x 30 days = $4.32/month
- Yearly cost: $0.14/day x 365 days = $52.56/year
As you can see, the costs of using an iron can quickly add up, especially with frequent usage. However, there are ways to reduce energy consumption and save money.
Money Saving Tips
Here are several tips to help save money when using an iron:
- Use the iron on the appropriate setting for the fabric being ironed. Using a lower setting may take longer, but will save energy.
- Iron larger batches of clothing at once to reduce the number of times the iron needs to heat up and cool down.
- Unplug the iron when not in use to prevent it from drawing standby power.
- Use a steamer instead of an iron whenever possible. Steamers use less energy and are more efficient in smoothing out wrinkles.
- Iron clothes when they are slightly damp. This reduces the amount of time the iron needs to spend heating up and cooling down, and makes it easier to smooth out wrinkles.
By following these tips, you can reduce your energy consumption and save money on your energy bills. Overall, it is important to be mindful of the amount of energy consumed by household appliances, including irons, and to take steps towards reducing our carbon footprint while also saving money.
