While the sound quality does not quite match that of a Bose, it is light years ahead of clock radios from a decade ago or that Walmart $20 bargain. Let’s go over the iHome clock radio’s highlights: sound, audio inputs and controls, clock control, and display. Although the $99 price tag made it substantially more expensive than its predecessor (or the cheapest clock radios now on the market), the additional capabilities and lower power consumption make it well worth the investment. My only regret is that I waited so long to acquire it. I’ll spend roughly $9 on power over the next 20 years to keep it running. My iHome clock radio, the iP90, uses a fraction of that amount: 0.4 watts, or less than 10 watt hours each day. Over the course of a 20-year lifespan, a 15-watt clock radio like the one we just replaced might cost $315. That’s $100 over 20 years, which is more than most clock radios cost. That 5 watt clock radio costs you $5 a year to run at 12 cents per kilowatt hour, which you consider a bargain. After all, a normal clock radio is only likely to consume 5, 10, or 15 watts, right? When the radio is playing, maybe 20? The problem is that the 5, 10, or 15 watts are a constant pull 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I doubt many people are concerned about the amount of electricity consumed by a clock radio. This small marvel has pleasantly surprised me, not only because of its simple setup and great sound, but also because it is, as it turns out, highly energy efficient. I recently purchased an iHome clock radio to replace an out-of-date 20-year-old alarm clock. What does it cost to keep a clock radio running? A basic alarm clock radio is estimated to require 2 watts. Modern Energy Star-rated alarm clocks with built-in radios require between 1 and 2 watts of electricity, whereas older models or ones with a lot of extra functions can use up to 5 watts. Alarm clock radios are a common household equipment that allows you to choose a time for waking up to the sound of the radio or preloaded music.