Calculate You Treadmill’s Energy Usage

After the scary pandemic ravaged the world, keeping fit and healthy has become the goal of many. The good news is that plenty of ways to strengthen the body’s endurance exist. Running is one excellent cardio exercise. But while jogging outdoors has its appeal, there may be times when it’s not possible. There are also those who want to exercise in the comfort and safety of their homes. 

Treadmills are incredible machines that let you give your cardiovascular system a great workout while staying indoors. However, you may wonder, do treadmills use a lot of electricity? That’s a valid concern since the gym equipment itself already costs a lot of money. 

Because the machine runs on electricity, it will inevitably add to your home’s electricity usage. 

Worry not, though,  because a treadmill isn’t as power-hungry an appliance as, say, an air conditioner or washer. As such, its electricity consumption won’t significantly impact your electricity bill. How about we tackle the issue of how much electricity a treadmill uses to set your mind at ease? 

Treadmill Energy Consumption

So, how much electricity does a treadmill use? It won’t be as high as an air conditioner or heater, that’s for sure. Still, you’ll need to assess if the gym equipment’s energy consumption will fall within your budget for your home’s total electricity costs. 

Different factors will affect how much electricity treadmills use. On average, a conventional electric treadmill uses about 600 to 700 watts (W). So if you use the machine around 3 times a week, its power consumption will be about 101.4 kWh a year.  

How much will that add to your electricity bill? Well, the average cost is $1.20 a month and $14.39 a year. If you’re concerned about the added electricity costs, consider looking into manual treadmills for your exercise needs. 

Let’s see how much electricity electric treadmills typically use. 

Based on Setting/Speed

The speed you set your machine naturally affects its electricity consumption. The higher the speed setting, the more power it uses, which translates into an increase in energy costs.  

Here’s how the energy consumption of an electric treadmill looks based on different speed settings. The electricity costs are based on the country’s average electricity rate (per kilowatt-hour). 

The data is below was published by: https://ecocostsavings.com/how-much-electricity-treadmill/

kWh Calculation

How much electricity does a treadmill use? We mentioned that different factors affect a treadmill’s power consumption. These include the machine’s wattage, speed setting, age, and how long you use it, among others. 

To calculate how many kWh a treadmill use, do the following: 

Check the treadmill’s wattage or power rating: This information is usually found in the machine’s instruction manual. Let’s use the average treadmill wattage (600 W) as an example. 

Multiply the wattage by the number of hours you use the treadmill: Let’s assume your treadmill use lasts for 1 hour, 6 days a week, which is equal to 24 hours a month. 

600 W x 24 hours = 14,400 watts 

Determine the treadmill power consumption in kilowatts: Convert the watts into kilowatts 

14,400 ÷ 1,000 = 14.4 kilowatts 

Your treadmill power consumption: 14.4  

Treadmill’s Running Cost

How much your treadmill use will add to your electric bill depends on a few factors but on average, per hour of usage will cost between 7-14 cents. That’s assuming the machine’s power consumption is about 0.5-1 kWh per hour.  

In one month, your treadmill usage will cost around $0.53-$1.05, on average. Depending on your exercise intensity and how long you use the machine, you’ll be using more or less electricity, which will affect your total power consumption for the month. 

Factors Affecting Your Treadmill’s Power Usage

A treadmill’s power consumption depends on several factors making it rather complicated to pinpoint exactly how much electricity it uses per month. Here are some of those factors. 

Motor Size

A treadmill’s electric motor is measured in horsepower (HP), and the size of these motors ranges from 1.5 to 4.0 HP. The higher the capacity of the electric motor, the more it can handle faster speeds for extended periods. However, it also uses more electricity compared to a smaller motor that needs less energy to run the belt. 

Treadmills meant only for walking exercises often have lower motor capacities than those for high-intensity workouts. This translates into lower electricity expenses.  

Usage Duration

How much electricity your treadmill consumes will depend on how often and long you use it. If you exercise 2 hours a day, 7 days a week, you’ll likely spend more on your electricity costs than those who work out for only 30 minutes 4 days a week. So to answer the question of how much electricity a treadmill consumes, you’ll need to factor in the number of times you do your workout and its duration. 

Although exercising longer on your treadmill can add to your electric bills, the amount is negligible compared to the health benefits you reap. 

Speed

The speed you set your treadmill is a significant factor when you compute its energy usage. A walking pace will naturally consume less electric power than a setting for a more intense run. It’s a little trickier to measure electricity consumption with this factor because people tend to run at varying speeds. For example, you may warm up by walking at 1.5 miles per hour and then increase your speed to 5 hours or more later. At some point, you may reduce your speed again. 

Inclination

Your electricity cost when using a treadmill increases or decreases depending on whether you use it at an incline. All treadmills have varying incline options, which helps keep the workout exciting and also raises the exercise intensity. Using the machine at an angle tends to increase power consumption. This is particularly true when you set it at a steep level. However, the additional watts the fitness equipment consumes aren’t enough to impact your power bills. 

Treadmill Age

As with most machines and electrical appliances, a treadmill’s energy efficiency declines as it ages. That’s because its components deteriorate from regular wear and tear. As a result, its average consumption tends to increase over the years.  

It won’t be possible to prevent the aging of the fitness equipment’s parts, but there’s something you could do to delay their decline in efficiency. Doing regular maintenance checks can help detect any problems that may hasten the deterioration of the machine’s components and increase its power consumption. 

User’s Body Weight

You’ll need to factor in your body weight to come up with the answer to the question of how much electricity a treadmill use. Each machine has a maximum user weight, and how much power it uses is affected by how heavy the user is. This means that the heavier you are, the more electricity the equipment consumes because it has to work harder to maintain the speed you’re using. 

With a heavier load, the electric motor needs more power as it detects the resistance created when your feet strike the treadmill running deck.  

Extra Features

Standard treadmills have basic features like speed and incline settings. Meanwhile, modern ones often come with special features, such as calorie counters, distance trackers, heart monitors, music players, and the like. These extras help make your workout more interesting and let you track your progress and condition. However, they can hike up your machine’s electricity usage as the added features run on electric power. 

How to Choose an Energy Efficient Treadmill?

Although treadmills are energy-efficient fitness machines, not all are created equal. Some, especially modern ones, have components (motors, screens, controllers, etc.) that consume less electricity than other units. So if you’re worried that your treadmill’s power usage will hike your utility bill, getting an energy-efficient unit can set your mind at ease.  

Here are some tips to ensure that your fitness equipment won’t give you bill shock. 

• Check the display screens: These don’t consume much electricity. Still, why go for a machine with apps you won’t need?  

• Study the machine’s limits: What’s the treadmill’s maximum power, user weight, speed setting, and incline level? Choose one that meets the abilities, present, and future of those using the equipment. 
• Don’t oversize: Treadmills with higher capabilities cost more. Moreover, they also consume more electric power. As such, investing in one won’t be energy and cost-efficient. 

Energy Saving Tips

With how electricity prices are going, you wouldn’t want to use more energy than you need. So even if treadmills cost only a fraction of your budget to run, you can still lower their power consumption by employing a few tips. Using these methods will let you see some savings on your power bill. As a bonus, you’ll also lower your carbon footprint without foregoing the health benefits of exercising. 

Use a Manual Treadmill

A manual treadmill takes the cake when it comes to reducing your energy consumption. That’s because it doesn’t use electricity. Most manual treadmills only require batteries to power the LCD display. 

Run Outside

Looking for an exercise option without adding to your power usage, consider running outside if possible. Not only will you save on your electricity bills, but you’ll also enjoy other health-related benefits, such as getting fresh air and free vitamin D from the sun. 

Proper Maintenance

We mentioned that as machines and appliances age, their components start to deteriorate, making them less efficient. With regular maintenance, you can prolong the life of your machine and ensure that it keeps running smoothly. This can help reduce its operating costs over time.

Don’t Leave on Idle

Most treadmills consume electricity when plugged in, even if you’re not using them. Thus, leaving your machine idle can add to the kilowatt-hours your home consumes. Completely turn off, or better yet, unplug your treadmill when not in use. For greater convenience, you can use a smart plug to turn the equipment off when it’s idle. 

FAQs

Conclusion

Electric treadmills consume electricity, that’s for sure. However, the benefits they offer to your health make purchasing the machine worthwhile. If you’re serious about increasing your fitness level, these machines can help you achieve your goal. 

If you’re concerned about the equipment’s electricity consumption, you can choose a manual version. Another alternative would be to purchase an energy-efficient unit and employ energy-saving techniques so you won’t see a significant hike in your power costs. 

Updated on 01-30-24