Use appliances when you do not have measured kWh
Measured energy use is better, but an appliance inventory is a useful starting point for new homes, backup-only systems or customers who cannot easily read daily consumption from a bill.
Load builder
Editable rowsAppliance energy calculator
Estimated daily energy—
Connected load—
For cycling appliances, use measured energy when possible. Connected load is not the same as realistic simultaneous load and does not include motor-starting surge.
Energy and peak power are separate outputs
Daily kWh is the sum of appliance power multiplied by hours of use. Peak power depends on which loads operate at the same time. The calculator’s “selected simultaneous load” estimate is only a starting point and does not include motor-starting surge.
Improve the estimate
- Use appliance nameplates or plug-in energy meters rather than generic wattages.
- For refrigerators and air conditioners, use measured energy over time because compressors cycle.
- Separate “must run during outage” from “can stay off.”
- Repeat the exercise for expected future loads such as an EV charger or additional air conditioning.