Take a careful look at considerations for: Energy Star Appliances, Purchasing Efficient Appliances, Estimating Energy Use for Appliances, and Energy Efficiency Standards, Appliance Parts, and Appliance Repair.
Every home appliance comes with two price tags: what it costs to take it home and what it costs to operate and maintain it each month. ENERGY STAR qualified home appliances incorporate advanced technologies and use 10 to 50 percent less energy than standard appliances. From refrigerators to clothes washers, ENERGY STAR qualified appliances save energy, save money, and help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants at the source.
Benefits of ENERGY STAR Qualified Appliances
- Lower Utility Bills: Home Appliances account for nearly 20 percent of the average household’s energy use. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances can save up to $100 a year in energy costs compared to standard appliances.
- Improved Quality and Durability: Energy-efficient appliances often include quality components surpassing those found in standard appliances. These can result in fewer mechanical problems, longer equipment life, and in many cases extended warranties.
- Enhanced Performance: ENERGY STAR qualified appliances often outperform standard home appliances due to improved design and advanced technologies. For instance, some ENERGY STAR qualified home appliances include features that decrease operating noise, while others include technologies that reduce water use.
Overview of ENERGY STAR Qualified Home Appliances
- ENERGY STAR Refrigerators and Freezers : ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use up to 40 percent less energy than the conventional refrigerator models sold in 2001 and at least 15 percent less energy than refrigerator models built to current federal standards. These refrigerators feature high-efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms. ENERGY STAR qualified freezers use at least 10 percent less energy than required by current federal standards. TIP: Leave space between the refrigerator and walls to allow air movement and brush (or vacuum) refrigerator or freezer coils regularly to maintain efficient operation.
- ENERGY STAR Dishwashers: ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use at least 25 percent less energy and up to 40 percent less water than standard dishwasher models and can save more than $25 a year in energy and water costs. These dishwashers use “smart” features such as effective washing action, energy-efficient motors, and sensors that determine the necessary cycle length and water temperature. TIP: Use short wash cycles for everything but the dirtiest dishes.
- ENERGY STAR Clothes Washers : ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers use up to 50 percent less energy and about one-third less water than standard washers. As a result, expect to save up to $75 per year on utility and water bills with additional savings from using less detergent. Most ENERGY STAR qualified washers extract more water during the spin cycle, providing further energy savings when using a clothes dryer because drying time will be shorter. Also, owners will see less wear and tear on clothes from front loading clothes washer models, which do not need an agitator. TIP: Use the correct amount and type of detergent; too many bubbles will make the machine work harder than necessary.
The right home improvement products, techniques, and services:
Contractors, home improvement stores, and specialty shops in your area may not yet have a complete familiarity with the ‘green’ opportunities, products, system integration, and overall savings potential. So, you may get some resistance, since people in general are typically more comfortable recommending something that they are already familiar with rather than something new. To help break the inertia, use the information across this website like our Return on Investment Master ROI Table. Also feel free to post a question in our forum on the message board about a particular need for your home relative to your area. Our team has spent multiple years aggregating research from public and private sector performance reports and from manufacturers and homeowners across the country in order to provide you with the perspective you may need to see the initial payback and long term advantages. Environmental enthusiasts and leading institutions like the American Institute of Architects and the National Association of Realtors, see the value and link into our resources to support their members.
The Green Home:
For your overall home improvement, you can save money, improve your family’s health, and save the planet. Find out for free how much it will cost to do different types of home improvement in your home from a qualified and member approved contractor in your area. Get a FREE Quote . Plus, regardless of the size and scope of your home improvement project, save money and keep your home clean with the top rated chemical free and concentrated Green Home Cleaning Products.
Home Improvement Basics:
When it comes to home improvement basics, look for interior home improvements like creating a clean, safe, and healthy home through sustainable ‘green’ furniture, home décor, zero VOC and Interior Paint, plus ENERGY STAR Appliances and Electronics. For energy and utility savings you can focus on insulation and air sealing, windows, doors, lighting and skylights, water saving plumbing opportunities, and high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems. On the outside of your house, look for exterior home improvement opportunities through landscape design and gardening plus solar energy, wind and other power sources. If you are undertaking a major home renovation, an additions, or building a new home, then take the lead to ‘go green’ in as many ways as possible to save money and the environment.
