Clothes dryers use a lot of energy, and they all work about the same way: They tumble clothes through heated air to remove moisture. Electric dryers use heating coils to supply heat, while gas models use a gas burner. Despite these similarities, gas and electric dryers differ in cost and performance. A gas unit can really reduce your energy load.
Comparing costs: Gas or electric?
Dryer efficiency is measured by its combined energy factor (CEF). The units of CEF are pounds of clothes dried per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity consumption. Electric dryers typically have a higher CEF and, on average, are about 12% more efficient than natural gas models, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A higher CEF does not necessarily mean lower operating costs, however. Depending on energy rates, gas dryers generally cost less to operate.
A typical electric dryer uses 80 kWh per month. At an average price of 12 cents per kWh for electricity, an electric dryer would cost $9.60 each month to operate — or $115 per year.
A typical gas dryer uses 3.2 hundred cubic feet (ccf) of natural gas and 4 kWh of electricity per month. At an average natural gas price of $1.08 per ccf and 12 cents per kWh for electricity, a gas dryer would cost nearly $4 a month, or about $48 per year.
Natural gas dryers may have a little higher purchase price, but with their lower operating costs they pay for themselves over the life of the dryer. Remember, energy rates may vary and installation costs in some areas will depend on the availability of natural gas.
Take a STAR turn
If your dryer is older or in need of repair, consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® model. ENERGY STAR-certified clothes dryers are at least 20% more energy efficient than standard models, without sacrificing quality or performance.
Get A $200 Rebate
Pensacola Energy offers a $200 rebate when you make the switch to a natural gas clothes dryer. For details call 850-436-5050 or visit pensacolaenergy.com.