Appliances

Few appliances are more central to a home than the refrigerator/freezer unit. The impact of the refrigerator is reflected in the high energy costs associated with its use. Other than heating and cooling units, the refrigerator is the single largest consumer of energy in most households. In response to the pressure to reduce energy usage, large manufacturers are now offering models with many of the latest features that use significantly less energy through more precise controls and high efficiency compressors.

Laundry is a large contributor to home water and energy bills. There are two ways to lower bills: use less water and use cooler water. Energy efficient washers require less than half the water of their traditional counterparts and spin the clothes more effectively to reduce drying time and lower energy use. Moisture sensors allow dryers to run until clothes are dry and then automatically shut off.

Like clothes washers, dishwashers consume significant amounts of both energy and water. While dishwashers are more efficient than hand-washing, many homeowners either do not have an appropriately sized model or select costly settings that severely reduce the benefits achieved from machine washing. If used correctly, an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher will save 5,000 gallons of water, $40 in utility costs, and 230 hours of your time annually, when compared to hand-washing.

ENERGY STAR does not certify cooking ranges due to the small role that cooking plays in a home’s overall energy consumption (~ 4.5%). That being said, newer models are more energy-efficient than their predecessors. When replacing an existing cooking unit, it is certainly advisable to review the relative energy efficiency of your alternatives to maximize long-term energy cost savings.

In today’s market, energy efficient appliances use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models. The key to understanding energy efficient appliances is to compare the additional cost of the appliance to the energy saved over its lifetime. In most cases, the money saved by switching to an efficient model more than outweighs the higher upfront cost of the appliance.