On average, an air conditioner costs between $0.06 and $0.88 per hour to use. Let's see how much air-conditioning costs every month (assuming it runs for 8 hours per day). The cheapest option is $14.40 per month and $211.20 per month on the high end.
This means an AC unit could cost you from $5.17 to $5.94 per day to run. Or about $155-$178 per month you're running it. Let's say you still have an ideal home setup, but a home that's a little bit less than the size of the average home – around 1900 square feet.
Air conditioners primarily use electricity to power the system and operate. The electricity consumption can vary depending on the unit's size, efficiency rating, and usage patterns. When it comes to your AC, your electricity bill is what is affected.
It's enough to give cash-strapped households pause the next time they go to flip on the air conditioner. But would keeping the unit off when you're not home actually reduce your bill? The answer is probably not. In milder climates, turning off the A/C for a few hours a day could save some energy and cash.
Let us now calculate the AC power consumption using an example. For example, there is a branded 1.5 kW AC that runs 8 hours per day. As a result, the total power consumption of that air conditioner will be 1.5 * 8 * 30 =360 units per month.
The average unit has a 500 watt fan, which uses almost as much energy over the course of the year as a refrigerator, resulting in a $50/month bill. During the summer months, the ducts in your attic and close to your walls can fill with warm air, resulting in the fan blowing hot air into your house.
On an average summer day, a general guideline is that your AC should operate between 12 and 16 hours. However, several factors can influence this, including the outdoor temperature, desired indoor temperature, the size and type of your unit, and your home's energy efficiency.
Air conditioners can cost anywhere between $0.32 and $1.87 to run per hour depending on the type and where you live. Investing in one or more fans for your home can be a great idea to keep your cooling costs down this summer. The upfront cost may be a bit higher but it'll pay itself in no time.
Heating and cooling: 45-50%
The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. By a long shot. Central air conditioners and heaters use tons of energy in order to keep your home set to the right temperature.
Your air conditioning system is one of the biggest culprits behind skyrocketing electric bills. When your air filter is dirty, refrigerant levels are low, your thermostat is faulty or you lack proper maintenance, your A/C system can end up using a lot more energy than it should.
In general, wall and window air conditioning units with smaller capacities can typically run for up to eight hours at a time before they need to rest. Larger wall and window units have a longer running time of around 10 to 12 hours, depending on their cooling power.
If you're more heat-tolerant, you can experiment with the temperature, raising it 1° F at a time to see how it affects your comfort and your budget; that 3 percent savings per degree adds up pretty quickly.
Therefore, the fan uses about 360 kWh per month in the ON mode. The average kWh in the US costs about $0.12 so it costs about $43 per month, or about $520 per year, to run a fan continuously.
Some homeowners naturally worry about the risks of a breakdown if they run the fan all the time, but this will not be a concern for you if your HVAC system was properly installed and maintained.
Electricity usage can vary depending on different factors. On average, a home air conditioner can use about 3,000 watts of electricity an hour. If you have it on all day, that's 72,000 watts of electricity a day! However, running it on the 'fan-only' mode will only consume about 750 watts an hour.
"But the average monthly cost for most people is anywhere from $70 to $144 a month in the summer." The type of cooling system in your home can also affect energy use, but not as much as you might think.
How much electricity does a TV use? Generally, TVs use between 50 to 200 watts (W) of electricity, depending on the model. Most TVs use less than one amp and connect to a 120-volt outlet. Older TVs that use technology such as Plasma and CRT are much less efficient compared to newer LED and LCD TVs.
According to the Department of Energy1, 78° Fahrenheit is the sweet spot for air conditioners to balance energy savings and comfort when people are at home and need cooling.
While running your air conditioner will cool your home, it consumes a lot of energy, leading to higher electricity bills. Yet not using the air conditioner isn't practical.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, standby power accounts for as much as 5% to 10% of residential energy use, and homeowners could save $100 to $200 each year on utility bills by unplugging devices that aren't in use.