What’s the Difference Between KW and KW? It’s easy to get kilowatt-hours (kWh) and kW (kW) mixed up when talking about energy consumption. Let’s break the definitions down a little further to clarify what they measure and what they are.
The Kilowatt-Hour
Measures the energy an appliance uses in kilowatts per hour
- Consumption factors in how many watts your appliances use and how often you use them
- kWh is a measurement of your electric appliances’ wattage and the amount of time you use
- The power you use on a daily basis can quickly add up to 1 kWh if you use high-wattage appliances
Monitor Your Electricity kWh
Many monitors available today are wireless and display your home’s energy consumption in an app.
Lower your energy costs
Be energy conscious
- Replace incandescent lightbulbs with energy-saving LEDs
- Unplug or turn off appliances if you’ll be away from home for a few days, and resist the urge to leave your devices on standby when you don’t need them
- Smart power bars can automatically turn off power to devices overnight
How Do You Calculate kWh vs. kW?
To calculate the kWh of your appliance, estimate the amount of time you use it and write down the appliance’s wattage (generally found on the label).
- One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts, so don’t forget to divide your wattage by 1000 to convert to kilowatts.
- Find the total energy usage for a month (30 days): 3 kWh x 30 days = 90 kWh per month Now that we know the monthly kWh for this device, let’s estimate the energy costs.
What Appliances Are Energy-Efficient?
ENERGY STAR appliances are certified as energy-efficient and perform at the same or better level than similar products on the market.
How Do Companies Measure My Usage?
Utility companies use digital meters outside of your home to measure your kWh.
- While traditional meters require a utility service to come to your home, newer digital meters have an electronic display that uses a high-frequency signal to send data to the utility companies.
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