Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

A Kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy equivalent to the amount of energy consumed by a 1 kilowatt appliance running for one hour.

High kWh items consume more energy and typically include appliances like air conditioners and electric ovens, whereas low kWh items use less energy and include devices like LED light bulbs and laptops.

Energy efficiency is directly linked to the amount of kWh consumed. For example, an energy-efficient refrigerator will use fewer kWh to cool its contents compared to a less efficient model.

Kilowatt-hours (kWh) are a key unit to compare both energy consumption and production levels across various scales, ranging from individual households to industries and even national energy policies.