Reading refrigerator ratings: kWh, adjusted volume and the standard
What annual kWh, adjusted volume and the percent below the federal standard mean on an ENERGY STAR refrigerator listing, and how to compare fairly.
October 18, 2026
Guides
Plain-language explanations of appliance energy use, electricity prices and how we calculate running costs.
How much electricity does a refrigerator use?
Annual energy use of 4,440 ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators by type and size, with yearly costs at 15 and 25 cents per kWh.
October 18, 2026
Why electricity prices differ so much from state to state
Residential prices run from 12.72 to 48.00 cents per kWh across US states. What EIA says drives the gap, and why a price is not a bill.
October 18, 2026
How much electricity does a dehumidifier use?
Annual energy use of 560 ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers by capacity, with yearly costs at 15 and 25 cents per kWh.
October 18, 2026
Reading ENERGY STAR dehumidifier ratings: kWh, IEF and pints per day
What the annual kWh, integrated energy factor and capacity numbers on an ENERGY STAR dehumidifier mean, and how to compare models fairly.
October 18, 2026
Your electricity rate vs. the state average: which price to use
What the EIA state average price really is, how it differs from your bill, and how to find the per-kWh price that fits an appliance estimate.
October 18, 2026
How to calculate what an appliance costs to run
Work out an appliance's electricity cost from watts, hours and your price per kWh, with worked examples and common mistakes.
October 18, 2026