Appliances

Appliances account for about 20% of your household’s energy consumption, with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list.

When you’re shopping for appliances, think of two price tags. The first one covers the purchase price—think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. You’ll be paying on that second price tag every month with your utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on the appliance. Refrigerators last an average of 20 years; room air conditioners and dishwashers, about 10 years each; clothes washers, about 14 years.

Energy-efficient features to look for when purchasing new appliances

Ovens

• Self-cleaning models are more efficient because they have more insulation.
• Convection ovens are more energy efficient because heated air is continuously circulated around the food being cooked. More even heat distribution and temperatures mean faster cooking times.
• If you are a cook who likes to peek in the oven, buy a model with a window.

Dishwashers

• Buy a dishwasher with a water booster heater, as this will allow you to maintain a lower water heater temperature.
• Energy-saving wash cycles, such as "light wash" or "light/china" saves energy by using less water and running for a shorter cycle.
• A "No-heat" dry option will save energy by allowing you to air-dry, instead of using an electric heater to dry.
• Energy Guide ratings for dishwashers can be misleading. The rating is based on operating the dishwasher through 322 cycles annually, on the "normal" setting. Your energy use could vary substantially, depending on how often you run your dishwasher. This is especially true if you are considering a model with other wash cycle options. Also, be aware that there are two categories of dishwashers, compact and standard capacities. Compact models use less energy, but they also hold fewer dishes.

Washing Machines

• Choose a washer that offers a wide range of water temperature controls for wash and rinse cycles. Options to control the length of a wash cycle have little impact on energy consumption.
• Choose a machine that allows you to select lower water levels when doing smaller loads. Some models have advanced electronic controls that automatically adjust water levels according to the size of the load.
• A front-load washer uses one-third less water than a top-loading machine. Consumer Reports and other studies show better overall washing performance with a front-load machine. Front-load washers have no agitator so you can fit large items, and clothes won’t wear out as fast. Finally, since front loaders use less water, you need less detergent.
• The Energy Guide Label will help you compare energy efficiency by comparing annual operating costs. But be sure not to compare apples to oranges. Smaller capacity washers will have better energy-efficiency ratings, but the smaller capacity may mean that you have to run the machine more often, and it may cost you more to operate.

Refrigerators and Freezers

• Consider what style and features you want in the new refrigerator and what the energy consequences might be. Side-by-side refrigerators use more energy than the standard models with freezers on the top. Bottom freezer models are slightly more efficient than top freezer models. Manual defrost models use less electricity than automatic defrost models, but beware, manual defrost models must be defrosted periodically to maintain their efficiency.
• Also consider size when shopping for a refrigerator. Larger units use more electricity and take up more space. Currently, the most efficient models are in the most popular 16-20 cubic feet range. Models that are equipped with ice makers and water dispensers will have a higher energy use.

Energy Guide Label

One of the easiest ways to determine and compare the operating or energy cost of different models is to use the "Energy Guide" label. The federal government requires that all appliances (not just energy-efficient models) display this yellow and black label. This label identifies the type of appliance, make and model number, and estimated annual energy cost based on average electric rates and use. It also shows how that model compares with models having the highest and lowest energy costs and contains a table showing average costs for different electric rates.

Everyday energy saving tips for appliances

Dishwasher tips

• Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer’s recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature (120°F).
• Scrape, don’t rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.
• Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it.
• Don’t use the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.
• Let your dishes air dry; if you don’t have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip: When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for the ENERGY STAR label to find a dishwasher that uses less water and 25% less energy than required by federal standards.

Refrigerator tips

• Look for a refrigerator with automatic moisture control. Models with this feature have been engineered to prevent moisture accumulation on the cabinet exterior without the addition of a heater. This is not the same thing as an "anti-sweat" heater. Models with an anti-sweat heater will consume 5% to 10% more energy than models without this feature.
• Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer section. If you have a separate freezer for long-term storage, it should be kept at 0°F.
• To check refrigerator temperature, place an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator. Read it after 24 hours. To check the freezer temperature, place a thermometer between frozen packages. Read it after 24 hours.
• Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers; frost buildup decreases the energy efficiency of the unit. Don’t allow frost to build up more than one quarter of an inch.
• Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment, the seal may need replacing, or you might consider buying a new unit.
• Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
• Move your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum its condenser coils once a year unless you have a no-clean condenser model. Your refrigerator will use less energy with clean coils.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip: Look for the ENERGY STAR when buying a new refrigerator. Select a new refrigerator that is the right size for your household. Top freezer models are more energy efficient than side-by-side models. Features like ice makers and water dispensers, while convenient, will increase energy use.

Laundry tips

• Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.
• Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.
• Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.
• Don’t over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it.
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
• Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
• Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire. Manufacturers recommend using rigid venting material, not plastic vents that may collapse and cause blockages.
• Consider air-drying clothes on clothes lines or drying racks. Air drying is recommended by clothing manufacturers for some fabrics.

$Long-Term Savings Tip: Look for the ENERGY STAR and Energy Guide labels. ENERGY STAR clothes washers clean clothes using 50% less energy than standard washers. Most full-sized ENERGY STAR washers use 18-25 gallons of water per load, compared to the 40 gallons used by a standard machine. ENERGY STAR models also spin the clothes better, resulting in less drying time.

$Long-Term Savings Tip: When shopping for a new clothes dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Not only will this save energy, it will save wear and tear on your clothes caused by over-drying. Keep in mind that natural gas dryers are less expensive to operate than electric dryers.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip: The cost of drying a typical load of laundry in an electric dryer is 30 to 40 cents, compared with 15 to 25 cents in a natural gas dryer. ENERGY STAR does not label clothes dryers because most of them use similar amounts of energy, which means there is little difference in energy use between models.