Compare documented annual electricity use for two appliances using one local rate, entered upgrade cost, and explicit planning horizon.
A quick decision brief for this specific tool
Comparable documented or representative measured annual kWh for the old and new appliances, one local electricity rate, entered upgrade cost, and a chosen planning horizon
Old/new annual electricity cost, signed annual difference, simple energy-cost break-even when savings are positive, and horizon net after entered upgrade cost
Multiply each annual-kWh figure by the same entered rate, subtract new from old, and compare cumulative entered energy savings with the entered upgrade cost
Choose your path
Compare two documented or representative measured annual electricity-use figures on the same local rate and planning horizon without treating nameplate watts as continuous consumption.
Translate like-for-like annual kWh into local electricity cost.
Enter comparable EnergyGuide/DOE or representative measured annual figures and one local rate.
Sees the energy-only annual difference without a universal savings claim.
See whether entered electricity savings recover an entered upgrade cost within a chosen horizon.
Add the scoped upgrade cost and planning horizon, then inspect simple break-even and horizon net.
Keeps rebates, installation, service life, financing and maintenance outside the entered result.
Preserve an unfavorable or equal branch.
Enter a new appliance with equal or higher annual kWh.
Gets same/higher cost rather than a forced savings story or false break-even.
Outputs and checklists are planning aids. Review the linked current authorities and the records, terms, instructions, and requirements that apply to your exact situation before a consequential decision.
This tool is part of these guided projects. Each project provides step-by-step instructions with checklists and all the tools you need in one place.
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Enter annual kWh for both appliances on the same usage and test basis. Standardized labels support model comparison, while representative measurement can reflect a specific household; neither should be mixed casually with nameplate power.
old/new annual electricity = entered kWh per yearEach annual-use figure is multiplied by the same electricity-price basis so the signed difference is auditable. Rate tiers and time-of-use effects are not added automatically.
annual electricity cost = annual kWh × entered $/kWhWhen entered annual energy cost is lower, upgrade cost is divided by that annual difference. The horizon net subtracts only the entered upgrade cost; a zero or negative difference has no energy-savings break-even.
horizon net = annual cost difference × years − entered upgrade costUpdated: August 2026
A shopper compares two similar models' annual kWh on the same local rate and keeps the label's standardized-use scope visible.
A household uses a representative plug-meter or utility record for the old appliance and a comparable documented annual figure for the candidate replacement.
A replacement with equal or higher entered annual kWh reports the same or higher electricity cost and does not fabricate a break-even year.
Use a comparable annual-kWh disclosure or representative measurement that reflects duty cycle and operating conditions.
Separately evaluate installation, rebates, water/fuel, maintenance, reliability, remaining service life, financing, disposal and non-financial impacts.
Compare like-for-like annual kWh figures from EnergyGuide/DOE documentation or representative measurement. The calculator prices both on the same entered local rate and shows a simple energy-only break-even; it does not assume nameplate watts run continuously or predict service life and total ownership cost.