Photo by Emmet from Pexels
The cost of electricity in the USA is usually given as $ per kWh which stands for kilowatt hour. We can figure out the amount of electricity that something will use in a year and how expensive it will be with the following formula:
Dollars out of your pocket = ( Watts/1000 ) * average number of hours you use it in a day * 365 days * $ per kWh
We can use an estimate of 13 cents per kWh.
Examples:
- Small laptop is $24.67 a year = ( 65watt/1000 ) * 8 hours a day * 365 days * 13 cents
- Mining cryptocurrency as a hobby is $1024.92 a year = ( 900/1000 ) * 24 * 365 * 0.13
- 1 old ass light bulb is $45.55 a year = ( 60/1000 ) * 16 (if you have at least 1 light bulb near you during the day) * 365 * 0.13
- 1 led light bulb is $7.59 a year = ( 10/1000 ) * 16 * 365 * 0.13
- And if you are my family, 10 light bulbs even when sleeping is $113.88 a year = ( 10/1000 ) * 24 * 365 * 0.13 * 10
Thankfully, I replaced the old style light bulbs a long time ago. Otherwise, it would cost $683.28 a year for keeping all the lights on. I still think we should be more aware of our energy usage what with climate change and all. I'll go take away my kids' phones until they listen.
Don't go too crazy optimizing that last 1%. But if we are somewhat aware of our energy use, then we can mine more crypto. And maybe buy some solar panels.
Feel free to check out https://invitation.codes/@j_wowza for referrals but I don't have one for better light bulbs.