What appliances can run on solar power? Solar power can run nearly any appliance, including lights, refrigerators, air conditioners, and even washing machines, depending on your system's size and energy storage. To learn how much total power you need for your home, you can start by calculating the amount of power each appliance uses — especially the major ones — and add the numbers together. Power consumption is calculated in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and it varies by device size, type, and time in use (among. This AC electricity is what powers your home or business appliances, such as air conditioners (ACs), refrigerators, washing machines, and lighting. But. The average American home uses 900kwh per month or 30kwh/day, which is equal to 25-35 250W solar panels.