Ever wonder how much you pay to power small appliances such as the radio, television, toaster, microwave, alarm clock, lighting, gaming system, cable box or modem?

You can determine how much energy they use — and how much you’re paying for the electricity — with a relatively simple calculation.

First, determine the device’s wattage. It’s typically listed next to the serial and model number, usually on the underside of the appliance.

Next, apply this formula:

Multiply the wattage by the hours per day the appliance is in use.
Divide that number by 1,000 to determine the daily kilowatt hours, or kWh.
Multiply the daily kWh by 30 to represent a month, and then multiply the monthly kWh by 0.11 (representing 11 cents).
The total is the approximate amount of your monthly bill that can be attributed to that appliance.

(The formula is not intended for more complicated or thermostatically controlled appliances such as ovens, ranges, clothes dryers, air conditioners or heat pumps.)

“Being mindful of your usage and the cost to operate small appliances is a good first step toward lowering your overall electric bill,” said Armando Ruiz, Senior Tech Specialist in Tucson Electric Power’s Residential Energy Efficiency Program.

“Even if you have energy saving appliances, don’t leave them on all the time,” Ruiz said.

Ceiling fans are a good example. While ceiling fans can make your home comfortable in the summer with a higher thermostat setting, leaving them on all of the time can counteract your savings. A 65-watt ceiling fan that runs eight hours per day will cost on average about $1.72 per month.

Also consider your coffee maker. Unplug the device unless you need to use a timer setting, Ruiz said. “You don’t want to be paying for the clock on the coffee maker 24/7 when you use the appliance for less than an hour a day.”