Energy Star Appliances

Believe it or not, you can actually save money on your appliances. We take it for granted that most appliances could run a lot more effectively than they currently do.  After all, most of us just shut the lid to the dryer and go back to our television programs until we hear the buzz signifying that the job’s finished.  By using ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, homeowners can actually save over $1,000 per year.

Where You Use Energy
Much of a home’s energy is used to heat water.  Now think about what you need hot water for: showers, baths (if you have children), laundry, and washing dishes.  If you don’t have kids, your bill might come to about $30 in water usage and $100 in heating each month if you average it out over a year.  But if you have children, that number rises dramatically, as if there are more people in the house, there are more dishes, more clothes, and more showers.  Additionally, much of your home’s heat will escape through the windows if they’re not energy-efficient. 

Energy Star Washing Machines
Most washing machines use 40 or more gallons per load.  When you consider how many of those gallons to be heated and how much energy is needed to make it work, this is a pretty big deal (and an expensive one).  By contrast, Energy Star-rated washing machines use between 18 and 25 gallons per load, which will save you up to 55% on the water consumption per load, as well as up to 50% on your heating bill each month.  Pretty sweet, eh?  .

Energy Star Dishwashers
A typical dishwasher uses 12 gallons of hot water per load.   Energy Star-rated dishwashers use three gallons less per load, which will save you a great deal on water, as well as the heat used on that water.  Depending on how many dishes are used in the course of your meals, this type of dishwasher can save you up to 25% on your water and heating bills.  This may seem like a small number, but if you add that up over a few months, you can get some major savings.

Energy Star HVAC
Depending on the extremity of the climate in your area, heating and cooling can comprise approximately 40% of your home’s annual energy bill.  While heating and cooling are necessary for comfort and survival in your home, it doesn’t have to cost you a great deal of money.  Heating and air-conditioning units with that Energy Star rating will use 20% less energy than a traditional unit, thus saving you even more money. 

The Drawbacks
At the outset, it might seem cheaper just to keep your old, inefficient appliances than to invest in new ones.  Energy Star rated appliances are generally more expensive than the alternatives.  However, if you factor in the savings you’ll incur on your heating and energy bills over the long run, Energy Star appliances are worthy investments.