Plain-English guides and calculators for the running costs of home appliances, heating and cooling in the US and the UK, built on official data.https://plugandpenny.com/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/air-fryer-vs-oven-cost/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/air-fryer-vs-oven-cost/Air fryers are cheaper for small meals: 14p vs 20p for a chicken breast (Energy Saving Trust, UK). A 30-minute air fry costs 14–15¢ (US) or 19–36p (UK).Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://plugandpenny.com/guides/average-electric-bill-by-state/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/average-electric-bill-by-state/The average US electric bill was $142.26 a month in 2024 (863 kWh at 16.48¢/kWh). See each state's use, price and bill, and why they differ.Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://plugandpenny.com/guides/cheapest-way-to-heat-a-room/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/cheapest-way-to-heat-a-room/An electric blanket costs 1–3¢ (US) or 2–4p (UK) an hour. For 1.5 kW of room heat per hour, a space heater costs 27¢ or 39p; gas costs 8–9¢ or 13–14p.Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://plugandpenny.com/guides/christmas-lights-cost/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/christmas-lights-cost/A 100-bulb LED string costs about 21¢ (US) or 30p (UK) over a 38-night season at 6 hours a night; incandescent costs $1.70 or £2.46.Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://plugandpenny.com/guides/electric-blanket-running-cost/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/electric-blanket-running-cost/A 100 W electric blanket costs at most 14.53¢ a night in the US and 21.06p in the UK (8 hours, full power), far less than heating the room.Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://plugandpenny.com/guides/heat-pump-running-cost-uk/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/heat-pump-running-cost-uk/A typical UK air source heat pump costs about £765 a year vs £757 for gas at the Oct–Dec 2026 cap. It breaks even at an SPF of about 2.8.Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://plugandpenny.com/guides/heat-pump-vs-furnace-cost/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/heat-pump-vs-furnace-cost/At US average prices, a heat pump needs a seasonal COP of 2.88 to match an 80% gas furnace and 3.42 for a 95% one. Break-even figures for every state.Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://plugandpenny.com/guides/uk-energy-price-cap-explained/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/uk-energy-price-cap-explained/Ofgem's October-December 2026 cap: electricity 26.32p/kWh plus 54.83p a day, gas 7.97p/kWh plus 29.68p a day (GB average, Direct Debit).Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://plugandpenny.com/guides/space-heater-running-cost/https://plugandpenny.com/guides/space-heater-running-cost/A 1,500 W space heater costs about 27¢ an hour at the US average electricity price. In the UK, a 2 kW heater costs about 53p an hour on the price cap.Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT