Energy Star Savings Calculator

About this calculator

This calculator subtracts the efficient appliance's annual kWh consumption from the standard model's, multiplies the difference by your electricity rate (cents or dollars per kWh), and multiplies again by the appliance's expected lifespan to project total lifetime savings — the same basic math behind the yellow EnergyGuide labels the U.S. FTC requires on new appliances and the ENERGY STAR program jointly run by the EPA and Department of Energy.

Homeowners comparing refrigerators, washers, dishwashers, or HVAC units before a purchase use it to see whether a higher upfront price for the efficient model pays for itself through lower electricity bills, and over what time frame — since energy-use figures and local electricity rates vary, the payback period can range from under a year for lighting and small appliances to a decade or more for major HVAC upgrades.