ENERGY STAR Appliances
Overview
Wondering how you can make your home more energy efficient? Upgrade your inefficient appliances to modern ENERGY STAR models. Not only will replacing outdated appliances vamp up your home and significantly reduce your energy bills, but the appliances may even qualify for a energy efficiency rebate from your local utility company.
Save Energy and Money
According to the ENERGY STAR website, 70 percent of the energy consumed in homes is used to power appliances. ENERGY STAR appliances can help cut down the amount of energy your home uses to power appliances and save you hundreds of dollars every year.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there's a range of efficiency ratings within ENERGY STAR appliances. For instance, refrigerators with top-mounted freezers are 10 to 25 percent more efficient than bottom-mounted freezers or side-by-side models, yet all three types can be ENERGY STAR rated. Similarly, smaller refrigerators typically use less energy than larger ones, even if both are ENERGY STAR rated.
If you're trying to save energy from your appliances, the biggest opportunities to save are your refrigerator, washer and dryer. Those three appliances usually consume 80-90 percent of the appliance energy in a home. If you decide to replace your clothes washer and dryer, a front-loading washer and dryer are your best choice for saving energy and water. Some new dryers even have moisture sensors, which allow them to automatically shut off when your clothes are dry.
The best way to find the most efficient model is to compare the Annual Operating Cost on the Energy Guide sticker across many different models of the appliance you're looking at. Find the one with the smallest annual operating cost that still meets your needs.
Here are some areas where you can save:
- Clothes Washers: Replacing a clothes washer that is more than 10 years old with an ENERGY STAR clothes washer is expected to save you $135 per year.
- Water Heaters: Installing a heat pump water heater could save you nearly $300 per year.
- Programmable Thermostats: By creating a heating schedule for your home, which is automatically implemented by a programmable thermostat, you can save $180/year.
- Refrigerators: Replacing a 20-year-old refrigerator could save you $50/year.
Does my utility offer a rebate?
Visit our rebate directory to find out what rebates your utility company offers for buying new appliances with the ENERGY STAR seal of approval.
Last Updated: December 2010
Recent Questions (see all)
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