The wattage of appliances and equipment as well as the amount of operating time can vary greatly. Collecting the information in these tables will show you how to determine where the energy dollars are going in your home or farm.
HOW TO ESTIMATE ENERGY USE & COST
STEP 1
Since the cost of electricity is determined by the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) used during a billing period, the first step is to determine your average cost per kWh.
The average cost per kWh is computed this way:
Average Cost per kWh=$ amount of bill/Total kWh used.
(Example: $0.11 = $110/1,000 kWh)
STEP 2
Since the wattage of an appliance (equipment) determines the electrical usage per hour, the second step is to determine the wattage.
The wattage of an appliance is found on the nameplate. But it is possible that the electrical requirements will be expressed in volts and amperes, rather than watts. If so, multiply volts times amperes to obtain the wattage.
STEP 3
Use the formula shown in this example to estimate usage.
A light uses 100 watts and is on for 15 hours. Compute the usage as follows:
kWh = (100 watts X 15 hours)/ 1000 watts = 1.5 kWh.
STEP 4
To find your daily cost for electricity, divide your bill by the number of days in the month.
|
Equipment |
Average kWh Use* |
Comments |
Estimated kWh/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Barn Cleaner |
120 annually |
|
|
|
Barn Lighting |
60/month |
|
|
|
Barn Ventilation (approx.) |
2 ½/cow/month |
|
|
|
Clipper |
1/10 hours of Use |
|
|
|
Dairy Water Heater |
1/3.6 gallons |
Heated from 50° to 165° @ 100% efficiency |
|
|
Engine Heater (truck or tractor) |
1-2/hour |
1000 to 2000 watts |
|
|
Fence |
7/month |
|
|
|
Grain Dryer (no heat) |
1/bushel |
Varies with weather & moisture to be removed |
|
|
(heated with electric heat) |
2/bushel |
|
|
|
Grain Elevator |
4/1000 bushel |
|
|
|
Grain Grinder |
.2/100 pounds |
|
|
|
Incubator |
1/25 eggs set |
|
|
|
Milking Machine (portable) |
1 ½/cow/month |
|
|
|
Milking Machine (pipeline) |
1 ½/cow/month |
|
|
|
Milk Cooler (can) |
1/10 gallons |
¼ to 5 H.P. |
|
|
Milk Cooler (bulk) |
11/100 gallons |
½ to 7 ½ H.P. |
|
|
Motor |
1/H.P./hour |
sizes ½ to 10 H.P. |
|
|
Poultry House (incandescent) |
6/100 birds/month |
|
|
|
Poultry House (fluorescent) |
2/100 birds/month |
|
|
|
Poultry Water Warmer |
1/day |
|
|
|
Silo Unloader (grass) |
4/ton |
3 to 5 H.P. |
|
|
Silo Unloader (corn) |
2 ½/ton |
3 to 5 H.P. |
|
|
Tool Grinder |
½/hour of use |
|
|
|
Water Pump (deep well) |
1 ½/1000 gallons |
rate: 8 gallons/min. |
|
|
Water Pump (shallow well) |
1/1000 gallons |
rate: 8 gallons/min. |
|
|
Water Stock Tank Heater –Hog |
193/season |
sheltered area |
|
|
Water Stock Tank Heater-Cattle |
193/season |
in barn |
|
|
Water Stock Tank Heater-Cattle |
469/season |
open shed |
|
|
Cattle-Hog Combination |
535/season |
open shed |
|
|
Cattle-Hog Combination |
1208/season |
open lot |
|
|
Welder |
100/year |
variable |
|
|
Yard Lighting (dusk to dawn) |
|
|
|
|
70 Watt Sodium Vapor |
31/month |
|
|
|
100 Watt Sodium Vapor |
47/month |
|
|
|
175 Watt Mercury Vapor |
73/month |
|
|
|
250 Watt Mercury or Sodium Vapor |
105/month |
|
|
|
400 Watt Mercury or Sodium Vapor |
161/month |
|
|
|
|
|
Farm Total: |
|
* The average monthly kilowatt-hour consumption figures shown on this chart are based on normal use. Your electrical consumption may be higher or lower, depending on how you and other people in your home or on your farm use the various appliances and equipment and on the season of the year.
If you have questions on this, or any of our energy services programs, please contact our Director of Energy Services at extension 3116.