Should I Upgrade My Appliance?
Enter what you have now and what you're considering. We'll calculate the exact annual savings at your local rate and how long it takes to pay for itself.
Your Current Appliance
How This Works
The calculation is simple: we take the annual energy use (kWh/year) of your current appliance, subtract the new one's energy use, and multiply the difference by your local electricity rate. That's your annual savings. Divide the purchase price by the annual savings and you get the payback period.
The payback period is everything. A $900 fridge that saves $74/year pays for itself in 12 years. But that same fridge in a high-rate area like San Diego at 43.63 cents saves $180/year and pays for itself in 5 years. Your electricity rate determines whether an upgrade makes financial sense.
The kWh/year rating comes from the yellow EnergyGuide label on your appliance. If you can't find it, use our defaults (based on typical older models) or search for your exact model above using ENERGY STAR data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Look for the yellow EnergyGuide label on your appliance (usually on the front, side, or inside the door). It shows the estimated annual energy consumption in kWh. If the label is missing or faded, check the owner's manual, search your model number on ENERGY STAR's product finder, or use our default values which represent typical older models.
It depends on three factors: how much energy your current appliance wastes, your electricity rate, and the cost of the replacement. As a rule of thumb, if the payback period is under 7 years, the upgrade makes strong financial sense. If it's 7-12 years, it's borderline, and you might wait until the current appliance fails. Over 12 years, keep what you have unless it's unreliable. The higher your electricity rate, the faster upgrades pay for themselves.
The biggest savings typically come from: (1) switching an old electric tank water heater to a heat pump water heater (can save $200-$500/year), (2) replacing a 15+ year old refrigerator (saves $50-$150/year), and (3) upgrading an old central AC to a modern heat pump (saves $100-$400/year). The savings scale directly with your electricity rate.
Savings estimates are based on the kWh/year values entered and your local electricity rate. Actual savings depend on usage patterns, appliance condition, and rate changes over time. New appliance costs are estimates; check retailers for current pricing. Rate data from the EIA. Product data from ENERGY STAR. See our full disclaimer.