And as one who understands both the fundamentals of electricity and refrigeration I'm telling you that you can about DOUBLE the so called estimated cost per year. Hust like you can cut the EPA mileage rating on a car by nearly half on some cars. It's put there too sell you something.
Look IF it was so blame cheap as they say then you could cool you home for the fraction of cost because A/C principle of removing heat is one and same as refrigeration principle of removing heat. My parents heat pump is abput two years ole now. It replaced one about 10 years old. One cost as much as the other to operate despite all the promises, Energy Star hype etc.
There are many factors at work but all have the same end result. Type of refrigerant matters as does type of compressor {hermetic or rotary} as too how fast the pull down on the temps actually A rotary compressor {not a new technology but used more now} does draw a little less amperage But It Runs Longer. But an older units with R-12 is more efficent than R-134A it's replacement thanks too the EPA found in all later models. My freezer uses 134A and draws a whopping 2 amps less. I wish it used R-12 because It also rns longer even though it isn't open and it isn't that old.
Same basic principle apply on A/C. I shorted my home a half ton capacity on purpose. Yes a larger unit would cool it down faster. It would also have more frequent start ups thus shortening the life. My A/C runa a little longer but all air in the house gets turned over. Longer off time. Electric bill savings or increase likely nothing.
A refrigerator despite the energy saving hype can only be made to do so much and must consume power to do it. I doubt there is a 18 Cubic ft or higher fridge on the market drawing less than 4 amps and I would say closer to 5 - 6 low ending it meaning 575 to almost 700 amps. IF you find one lower I can guarantee you it will be running much longer and net savings despite what that ticker says is ZILCH.
There are lots of claims of energy and cost savings which may be partially true. My parents converted from electric resistance heat to a Heat Pump about 12 years ago. Yea good savings on the electric bill. But the last heat pump unit cost nearly 10 grand. I've had my electric central heat over 21 years. Same unit and for that matter same cooling unit. Who saved more money in the long run? Me. Most heat pumps never actually pay for themselves in energy savings like the government and companies making them claim. If you get 15 years out of one it is the exception not the rule. Expect 10 but prepare for as low as 7 years of life from it.
Yes, you can, but that still does not come NEAR 8000KWH, sorry. I understand the rest of your post, and yes, I can agree with most of it, but I was clearing up an error that was off by an order of magnitude, sorry. I understand everything you are telling me, I too was trained in such things at some point in my life as well. Good on you.