Model
K�Hl KCVL28B30B
Rank #400 means 399 of the 404 room air conditioner models we track cost less to run each year; the 9th efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 9% of those models.
What does the K�Hl KCVL28B30B cost to run per year?
The K�Hl KCVL28B30B costs about $292 a year to run, sitting in the very bottom slice of the cheapest-to-run leaderboard, rank #400 of 404. It uses 53% less energy than the U.S. federal standard model in its class, which would cost about $620/yr to run, a saving of roughly $328 a year. Its 9th size-adjusted efficiency percentile is well below the class median, worth weighing against the raw cost figure above. At a CEER of 13.8, its combined energy efficiency ratio is the single figure that best explains how it earns its running-cost number.
Immediately around it on the leaderboard, the K�Hl+ KHVL28B35B at $277/yr runs a little cheaper and the Friedrich KCVL28B30A at $305/yr runs a little more, a sense of how tightly models are packed at this point in the ranking. A room air conditioner typically stays in service for somewhere around 10 years; over that span, the K�Hl KCVL28B30B's $292/yr adds up to roughly $2920 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs. At rank #400 of 404, it sits at the very top of the cost range for its class, among the single priciest models we track to run.
By the numbers
The K�Hl KCVL28B30B normalized against its whole class, so each figure means something.
What it costs you over time
Running cost is an every-year number, so it compounds. At $292/yr, here is what the K�Hl KCVL28B30B adds up to before purchase price, water, or repairs enter the math.
Left running for a decade at today's US average rate, the K�Hl KCVL28B30B costs about $2920. That is roughly $3280 less than a standard model in its class, which would run closer to $6200 over the same ten years.
How the K�Hl KCVL28B30B compares
The room air conditioner class we track runs from $51 to $389 a year. At $292/yr, it runs about $193 a year above the class median of $99, and it is about $241 a year more than the cheapest room air conditioner to run at $51. Against the US federal standard model for its class at about $620/yr, the K�Hl KCVL28B30B uses 53% less energy.
What drives its running cost
At 28900 BTU/hr, the K�Hl KCVL28B30B is a large room air conditioner for its class, which spans 5000 to 34100 BTU/hr with a median of 10100 BTU/hr, among room air conditioner models, bigger capacity is the most common reason a running-cost figure lands on the high side, all else being equal. Its CEER of 13.8, below the class median of 15, reflects combined energy efficiency ratio: a higher figure means it wrings more useful work out of every kilowatt-hour, so it is the efficiency lever to weigh against raw size.
- Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio (CEER). CEER captures cooling output per watt, including standby power; a higher CEER means less electricity for the same BTU of cooling.
- BTU cooling capacity. A higher-BTU unit is sized for a bigger room and generally uses more electricity per hour of operation than a smaller unit, regardless of efficiency.
- Thermostat and mode usage. Running on a fixed low temperature around the clock uses far more energy than using a thermostat setting, eco mode, or a timer to match cooling to when the room is actually occupied.
Common questions
Is the K�Hl KCVL28B30B cheap to run?
Not especially. At $292 a year it ranks #400 of 404 room air conditioner models we track, in the pricier part of its class to run, though its size and features may still justify that for your needs.
How much does the K�Hl KCVL28B30B cost per month?
Roughly $24.29/mo, spreading the $292/yr estimate evenly across twelve months at $0.1856/kWh. Actual monthly bills swing with your rate and usage pattern.
How is this running-cost figure calculated?
We take the model's published annual energy use of 1,571 kWh from ENERGY STAR and multiply it by the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, giving about $292 a year. It is an electricity-only estimate and does not include purchase price, water, or installation.
How efficient is the K�Hl KCVL28B30B for its size?
9th percentile once size is factored in. That means its size-adjusted efficiency is not the main reason for the running-cost figure above; its capacity plays a large role too.
Cheaper to run in the same class
| Rank | Model | Cost/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 399 | K�Hl+ KHVL28B35B28300 BTU/hr | $277 |
| 398 | Whirlpool WHAW-241IN24000 BTU/hr | $263 |
| 397 | Tcl T24WQ2S24000 BTU/hr | $263 |
| 396 | Tcl H24W4KW-CA24000 BTU/hr | $263 |
| 395 | Tcl H24W4KW24000 BTU/hr | $263 |
Source
ES_31705_KCVL28B30B_061720260321117_4463580View certified room air conditioner listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026K�Hl and KCVL28B30B are used here for identification only and are not endorsements. Figures are computed by WattWise Labs from public ENERGY STAR data, not measured in our own lab.