A refrigerator has a nameplate power rating of 150W. On average, the compressor motor runs only 40% of the time during a 30-day month.
(a) Calculate the total electrical energy, in kilowatt-hours, consumed by the refrigerator in one month.
(b) If electrical energy costs $0.12 per kilowatt-hour, determine the cost of operating the refrigerator for that month.
(c) Suppose the homeowner replaces the refrigerator with a newer model rated at 110W that cycles on for only 30% of the time. Estimate the percentage reduction in monthly operating cost compared with the original refrigerator.