Utility Empire is a collection of free, no-login tools that translate research-grade data into actionable everyday insights. We believe everyone deserves access to the kind of data-driven clarity that has traditionally required expensive software or professional consultants.
The data that could help you make better decisions about your finances, career, health, and daily life already exists — in government databases, peer-reviewed research, and occupational science archives. Most people never access it because it is buried in technical reports or requires specialized software to interpret.
Utility Empire bridges that gap. We do the work of distilling authoritative data into clean, fast, free tools. No account required. No data collected. No paywalls.
Every tool on Utility Empire is grounded in peer-reviewed research and/or official government data. Below is a full account of our data sources and calculation methods.
Inflation adjustments are calculated using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CUUR0000SA0) retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Public Data API. The projection formula is the standard compound growth calculation: FV = PV × (1 + r)^n, where r equals the annual inflation rate and n equals the projection period in years. Investment alternative scenarios assume a 7% nominal annual return, approximating the long-run average of the S&P 500 index. All projections are estimates and do not constitute financial advice.
Risk scores are derived from a weighted combination of: (1) Occupational task automation susceptibility data from O*NET, the official occupational information system maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor; (2) Frey and Osborne (2013, 2017) computerization probability estimates from Oxford University; (3) McKinsey Global Institute (2023) AI automation potential by occupation; and (4) Stanford HAI AI Index (2025) capability benchmarks. Skill modifiers apply positive protective factors (interpersonal, creative, physical) and negative risk factors (repetitive, rules-based tasks). Scores are composite heuristics for informational use only — not guarantees of future employment outcomes.
Life events scores use the Holmes–Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), originally published by Holmes and Rahe in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research (1967) and replicated widely in clinical settings. Work stress thresholds are informed by Kivimäki et al. (2015, The Lancet), which found that working 55+ hours per week is associated with a 33% increased stroke risk and a 13% increased coronary heart disease risk. Sleep scoring draws on Matthew Walker's synthesis of sleep deprivation research (2017). Commute wellbeing impairment is based on Stutzer and Frey (2008, The Economic Journal). Resilience buffer weights are drawn from APA stress resilience research publications.
Vehicle operating cost data (depreciation and maintenance per mile by vehicle class) come from the AAA Your Driving Costs 2024 annual report. Fuel economy defaults reflect EPA fueleconomy.gov category averages. CO₂ emissions factors used: 8.89 kg per gallon of gasoline consumed (EPA), and 0.386 kg per kWh for U.S. average grid electricity (U.S. EIA 2024). Time value of commuting is calculated using the user's provided hourly wage — a method consistent with U.S. Department of Transportation guidance on valuing travel time. All figures are estimates; actual costs vary significantly by vehicle, location, and driving behavior.
The core scoring instrument is the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), developed by Sandra G. Hart and Lowell E. Staveland at NASA Ames Research Center and published in Human Mental Workload (1988). This tool implements the Raw TLX (unweighted) variant, which averages ratings across six dimensions: Mental Demand, Physical Demand, Temporal Demand, Performance, Effort, and Frustration. The Raw TLX is validated in over 550 independent peer-reviewed studies as equivalent in reliability to the weighted version (Byers et al., 1989). Task list and role burden components are supplemental composite scores developed by Utility Empire based on occupational psychology literature.
No personal data is collected by Utility Empire. All calculations run entirely within your browser using JavaScript. No form data, no calculator inputs, and no usage patterns are transmitted to our servers. There are no user accounts, no email lists, and no tracking pixels operated by us.
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All tools on UtilityEmpire.com are provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are statistical estimates based on population-level research and published averages. They should not be construed as:
Individual results vary. Always consult qualified, licensed professionals before making decisions in these areas. UtilityEmpire.com makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy of results for any individual's specific circumstances. Use of this site is subject to our Privacy Policy.
We welcome feedback, questions, data accuracy corrections, and partnership inquiries. When reporting a data issue, please include the tool name, the specific claim in question, and a supporting source so we can investigate promptly.
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