Energy & Sustainability worked example

Chiller Energy Cost with average chiller electrical demand of 1,100 kW: a worked example

This scenario runs the chiller energy cost calculation on the strong side: average chiller electrical demand of 1,100 kW, with every other input held at its documented default. a facilities or energy manager needs to estimate cooling electricity cost

The inputs for this scenario

  • Average chiller electrical demand: 1,100 kW (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 420)
  • Chiller runtime: 240 hr (unchanged)
  • Blended electricity rate: 0.13 $ / kWh (unchanged)
  • Cooling tons, batches, or units served: 185,000 units (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Chiller electricity used = average chiller electrical demand × chiller runtime) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 34,320 $ for total chiller electricity cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 264,000 kWh for chiller electricity used.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.19 $ / unit for chiller cost per served unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 143 $ / hr for chiller electricity cost per runtime hour.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where average chiller electrical demand sits at 420 kW and the headline result is 13,104 $, this scenario comes in 162% above the baseline at 34,320 $.
  • Use it for monthly energy budgeting, per-unit cost allocation, or building the business case for a chiller efficiency upgrade. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total chiller electricity cost: 34,320 $ (headline result)
  • Chiller electricity used: 264,000 kWh
  • Chiller cost per served unit: 0.19 $ / unit
  • Chiller electricity cost per runtime hour: 143 $ / hr

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Chiller Energy Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.