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HVAC made simple
HVAC CALCULATOR
HVAC Cost & Savings Calculator
Estimate HVAC operating costs, compare system efficiencies, calculate potential energy savings, and explore simple equipment-upgrade payback.
What Would You Like to Calculate?
Select the cost or savings calculation that matches your question.
Electric HVAC Operating Cost
Estimate operating cost from actual electrical power draw and runtime.
kW
Enter electrical input power, not heating or cooling
capacity expressed in thermal kW.
$
/ kWh
Use the applicable electricity rate from your utility bill.
hours/day
days/year
Gas Furnace Operating Cost
Estimate fuel cost using furnace input capacity, runtime and gas price.
BTU/hr
$
/ therm
hours/day
days/year
Note:
For fuel-cost calculations based on furnace input capacity,
AFUE does not reduce the amount of gas burned while the burner
is operating at that input rate. AFUE describes how much of
the fuel energy becomes useful seasonal heat.
Electric HVAC Upgrade Savings
Compare annual energy use for existing and replacement equipment.
kW
kW
hours/day
days/year
$
/ kWh
$
Furnace Efficiency Savings
Estimate fuel savings from replacing a furnace with a higher-AFUE model.
%
%
$
/ year
$
Enter the portion of your annual gas expense attributable
to space heating where possible. Gas used for water heating,
cooking and other appliances should not be counted as furnace
savings.
YOUR ESTIMATE
Estimated HVAC Operating Cost
Estimated Annual Cost
$0
Based on your entered assumptions
Hourly Cost
$0
Daily Cost
$0
Monthly Estimate
$0
Annual Energy Use
0
What This Estimate Means
Net Upgrade Cost
$0
Simple Payback
—
How HVAC Operating Costs Are Estimated
The calculator uses the appropriate formula for the selected energy source.
Electric HVAC
Cost = kW × operating hours × electricity rate
Natural Gas
Therms/hour = furnace input BTU/hr ÷ 100,000
Gas Cost
Cost = therms used × price per therm
AFUE Upgrade
New cost = current cost × current AFUE ÷ new AFUE
⚠️ Rated Capacity Is Not the Same as Energy Consumption
A 36,000 BTU/hr air conditioner or heat pump does not necessarily consume 10.55 kW of electricity simply because 36,000 BTU/hr is equivalent to about 10.55 kW of thermal capacity. For electric operating-cost calculations, use the equipment’s electrical input or a reasonable measured/estimated power draw rather than converting its heating or cooling capacity directly into electrical consumption.
Important:
This calculator provides educational estimates only. Actual HVAC
operating costs and savings vary with weather, climate, utility
rates and rate structures, equipment efficiency, part-load
operation, cycling, thermostat settings, home insulation, air
leakage, ductwork, maintenance, installation quality, occupancy,
equipment condition and other factors. Simple payback does not
account for financing, maintenance, repairs, inflation, equipment
life or the time value of money. Verify equipment specifications
and utility rates and consult a qualified HVAC professional when
evaluating equipment replacement or system design.
