Energy-Efficient Appliances

The typical household spends nearly $1,500 annually on energy bills, with major appliances accounting for almost thirty percent of that amount. A quick and easy way to save money on your energy bill is to replace lower efficiency appliances with energy-efficient models. And while it's true that energy-efficient appliances cost more money up front, they will save you more money over time in lower energy bills.

The easiest way to find energy-efficient appliances is to look for the Energy Star-rated models. There are two stickers to look for:

• A sticker that includes the Energy Star logo, letting you know that that particular model can save you up to thirty percent annually in energy savings.
• A bright yellow energy guide sticker that details information about how much energy the appliances uses, approximate annual operating costs, and energy use comparisons with other models.

Most major appliances qualify for Energy Star ratings and they include refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers, dehumidifiers, and room air conditioners, to name a few. Two major appliances that most of us use nearly every day are a clothes washer and a refrigerator. If you had energy-efficient models, here's what you could expect from each:

• Clothes washers that are Energy Star-rated use fifty percent less energy than their standard counterparts. Since they use less water and take more water away during the spin cycle, drying time is reduced, saving wear-and-tear on your clothing. Not only do you save money operating the machine, you save money on water usage, and in replacing worn out clothing.
• Energy Star-rated refrigerators use almost half of the energy of those models made before 1993, so you will see a cost savings in your annual electric bill if you use an energy-efficient refrigerator. You won't have to give up convenience for efficiency, either. Most models come with the latest features such as icemakers and through-the-door water and ice dispensers.

Even if you decide that your budget cannot cover the cost of a new energy-efficient appliance, remember that there are ways that you can save energy using your current appliances. Always run full loads when you use your dishwasher, clothes washer, and clothes dryer. Allow dishes to air dry instead of using the dry cycle on your dishwasher. Hang clothes to dry instead of using your clothes dryer. Set your water heater temperature to a lower setting. All of these tips will help you save energy and lower your energy bill.