What is Watt to Cost and Why Should You Care?
Ever wondered how much it costs to run that space heater, gaming PC, or air conditioner? Understanding "Watt to Cost" helps you quantify your electricity expenses by appliance.
This knowledge helps you make smarter choices about energy usage, identify high-cost appliances, and reduce your electricity bills.
How to Calculate Watt to Cost
The formula to convert watts to cost:
[\text{Cost} = \frac{\text{Watts} \times \text{Hours}}{1000} \times \text{Rate per kWh}]
Where:
- Watts is the power consumption of the appliance
- Hours is how long the appliance runs
- 1000 converts watts to kilowatts
- Rate per kWh is your electricity cost per kilowatt-hour
Calculation Example
Let's calculate the cost for a device consuming 1500 watts running for 4 hours at $0.12/kWh.
Step 1: Calculate kilowatt-hours:
[\text{kWh} = \frac{1500 \times 4}{1000} = 6 \text{ kWh}]
Step 2: Calculate cost:
[\text{Cost} = 6 \times 0.12 = 0.72]
Running a 1500W device for 4 hours costs approximately $0.72.
Monthly Cost Example
Running the same device 4 hours daily for 30 days:
[\text{Monthly Cost} = \frac{1500 \times 4 \times 30}{1000} \times 0.12 = 21.60]
Common Appliance Costs
| Appliance | Watts | 8 hrs/day Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| LED Light Bulb | 10W | $0.29 |
| Laptop | 50W | $1.44 |
| TV | 100W | $2.88 |
| Desktop PC | 200W | $5.76 |
| Space Heater | 1500W | $43.20 |
Based on $0.12/kWh rate