How the Energy Converter Works
This tool instantly converts between the main energy units of measurement, from the Joule of the International System to nutrition's kilocalories, from electricity bill kWh to air conditioning BTUs.
Most Common Conversions
| From | To | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kcal | kJ | 4.184 |
| 1 kWh | kJ | 3,600 |
| 1 kWh | kcal | 860.4 |
| 1 BTU | kJ | 1.055 |
| 1 cal | J | 4.184 |
Energy in Daily Life
In everyday life, the two most common energy units are kcal (nutrition) and kWh (electricity).
Electricity bill: the average household consumption is about 10,500 kWh/year in the US. This equals about 37.8 billion Joules.
Nutrition: food labels report energy in both kJ and kcal. The average daily requirement for an adult is about 2,000 kcal (8,368 kJ), equivalent to about 2.33 kWh.
Air conditioning: AC capacity is often expressed in BTU/h. A unit rated at 9,000 BTU/h (~2.6 kW) is suitable for rooms up to 270 sq ft, one rated at 12,000 BTU/h (~3.5 kW) for rooms up to 375 sq ft.