Home Energy Guides
Practical guides for U.S. households: understand electricity bills, estimate appliance costs, and compare heating and thermostat options. Each guide explains its assumptions and links to sources.
Start with calculating appliance costs, use the high electric bill checklist, or explore energy bills and calculations.
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What Is a Smart Thermostat? Savings and Payback Guide
A smart thermostat is not a guaranteed discount on your whole bill. Learn how it works, estimate savings and payback, and check whether an upgrade fits your home.
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Is Electricity Cheaper at Night? Check Your Rate Plan
Electricity is not always cheaper at night. Learn how to check your rate plan, find off-peak hours, and calculate the savings before changing your routine.
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AUX Heat on Your Thermostat? What It Means and What It Costs
Learn what AUX heat means, how it differs from emergency heat, and how to estimate electric backup costs without disabling necessary heating.
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How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use? Daily kWh and Monthly Cost
Find out what refrigerator watts mean, calculate daily kWh and monthly cost, and compare documented examples using your own electricity rate.
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Space Heater vs. Central Heat: Which Costs Less to Heat One Room?
A space heater is not automatically cheaper than central heat. Compare your rates, heating system, and the cost of warming just one room.
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Why Is My Electric Bill So High? 15 Causes and How to Lower It
Learn why your electric bill increased, compare kWh per day and rates, and find practical ways to lower home electricity costs safely.
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Do Dehumidifiers Use a Lot of Electricity? 2026 Cost Guide
A 500-watt dehumidifier costs about $0.09 per equivalent full-load hour at the latest U.S. average rate. See monthly scenarios and savings tips.
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How Much Electricity Does a Space Heater Use? Cost per Hour, Day, and Month
A typical 1,500-watt space heater uses 1.5 kWh per full-power hour. See what that costs per hour, day, and month—and why your real bill may differ.
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How to Calculate the Electricity Cost of Any Appliance
Estimate the daily, monthly, or yearly electricity cost of any appliance using watts, operating time, and your local electricity rate.