What Is the Kwh in Dehumidifiers?

The kilowatt hour (kWh) is a unit of energy equivalent to 3.6 million joules (J) or 3.6 megajoules (MJ). It is typically used to measure the consumption of domestic electricity, and in the case of dehumidifiers it is used to describe energy efficiency or energy factor.

Energy Factor

The energy factor of a dehumidifier is a measure of the volume of moisture, in liters (l), that it removes from the air for each kWh of energy it consumes. Standard-capacity dehumidifiers typically start at around 1.2 l/kWh, while high-capacity humidifiers can reach up to 3.5 l/kWh or more.

Considerations

The energy factor of a dehumidifier is slightly different from the energy factor of other domestic appliances. The energy efficiency of a washing machine or refrigerator is typically quoted as kWh per month or year, so the lower the figure the better. The higher the energy factor of a dehumidifier, the better.

Energy Star Standard

The Energy Star standard defines the energy factor for dehumidifiers at 80 degrees and 60 percent relative humidity. In economic terms, the higher the energy factor of a dehumidifier, the less you pay to remove moisture from the air.

References

• Energy Star: Dehumidifier Basics
• Green-Energy-Efficiency-Homes.com: Energy Efficient Dehumidifiers
• Australian Academy of Science: Glossary
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.: Choosing a Dehumidifier