If you're thinking of buying a new dishwasher, clothes washer or refrigerator, there's just one thing you need to look for: the EnergyStar label. EnergyStar is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designed to certify products meet strict energy-efficiency standards. The little blue labels are a key way to save energy, which helps both the environment and your pocketbook.
These high-efficiency machines sometimes cost more than their inefficient counterparts. But every appliance you buy comes with two price tags - one you pay at he store, and the second you pay every month to fund the energy they use. Over time, the costs of running the machine will exceed the cost to buy it. So choosing an efficient machine now will not only help you conserve energy but also it will help you save money for years to come.
You shouldn't feel bad using your efficient appliances, either. Dishwashers, for example, help us conserve water because the machines are more efficient in their water use than washing them the old-fashioned way. You can save 5,000 gallons of water every year, $40 in utility costs and 230 hours of time by using a dishwasher instead of washing your dirty dishes by hand, according to EnergyStar.
The program certifies most appliances, with the exceptions of stoves, ovens and clothes dryers, which do not have as great of potential for energy savings as other machines do. But look for the label on everything from lighting fixtures and windows to microwaves, clothes washers and air conditioners.
If you're not sure which appliance you should replace first, start big. Refrigerators account for seven percent of a home's total energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy and they usually consume the most energy of any kitchen appliance. Fridges have also become drastically more efficient in recent years. New EnergyStar-certified fridges use half as much energy as fridges made before 1993, according to EnergyStar. Replacing a fridge made before 1990 with a new EnergyStar model would save enough energy to light an average home for nearly four months. That's a bright way to save.
Source: BecauseAction.com
