If you look around your home, you’ll notice that all the major appliances, including your refrigerator, washer and dryer and dishwasher, are responsible for a large portion of your utility bills.
Unfortunately, if you have an outdated major appliance that is more than 10 years old, you’re likely spending a lot more money on your home energy costs than necessary.
If you’re considering an upgrade to new energy efficient models, now is a great time to buy new appliances. Today’s household appliances aren’t energy hogs like their outdated models, because the government now requires manufacturers to meet certain federal energy efficiency standards, which have grown tighter over the years.
So buying new, rather than purchasing a used appliance, may actually save you money in the long run. Consider this: A refrigerator purchased today uses less than half the energy than a fridge that is a decade old or older.
Purchasing an energy efficient appliance doesn’t just save you money, but they are environmentally friendly. If all of us use less energy, then we decrease our demands on the power plants, which creates less pollution, decreasing our carbon footprint on the environment.
The key is finding the right energy efficient appliances that use the least amount of energy.
Here are some tips if you’re considering the purchase of a major appliance:
Energy Star Appliance
Always seek out an Energy Star-labeled appliance. Energy Star appliances are considered the highest energy efficient products on the market. They always exceed the minimum energy efficiency ratings created by the federal government. To encourage you to purchase Energy Star products, many utility companies and even governmental agencies offer rebates on Energy Star appliances. Visit www.energystar.gov, for more information.
EnergyGuide Label
Learn how to read an EnergyGuide label. Don’t be fooled into thinking that an appliance is ranked energy efficient because it carries an EnergyGuide label. All new appliances are required to carry them now. The label gives consumers the ability to do apples-to-apples comparisons of different models, comparing how much energy the appliance consumes and its operating costs.
Size Appropriate Appliance
Find the right-sized appliance for your energy needs. If you’re renting a small apartment, you probably don’t need an oversized air conditioner, which will waste energy and cost you more money. Instead, figure out what your needs are, and purchase the right-sized energy efficient appliance. This can apply to many appliances, including your water heater and refrigerator.
Natural Gas Appliances
Purchase natural gas appliances rater than electric. It’s more energy efficient to use natural gas directly in your home, rather than having the power company burn the gas at a power plant, convert the gas heat to electricity and then send that power through wires to your home for you to use. There are several appliances, including dryers, water heaters and stoves, that operate on natural gas.
Long-term Investment
Consider your purchase a long-term investment. Most energy-efficient appliances will cost you more upfront, but they will be saving you money in the long run. Most major appliances have a life span between 10 to 20 years, and will likely pay for itself through lower utility bills each month. If you’re considering the purchase of a water or dishwasher, you’ll also be using a lot less water, which can lower your water bill.
