Appliances
Home appliances can add to or detract from a home's overall energy efficiency. The best way to know that a home appliance is designed with energy efficiency in mind is to look for the ENERGY STAR® label. This label means that a product meets strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
An appliance has two price tags: what it costs to purchase and what it costs for the energy (and water) to operate it. ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models. The money saved on utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model.
Energy-efficient clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air conditioners, and dehumidifiers that have earned the ENERGY STAR label provide top performance, premium features, and energy savings.
Clothes Washers
Compared to a model manufactured before 1994, an ENERGY STAR-qualified clothes washer can save up to $110 per year on utility bills. Most full-sized ENERGY STAR qualified washers use 18 to 25 gallons of water per load, compared to the 40 gallons used by a standard machine. The water factor measures the gallons of water used per cycle per cubic foot (for example, a 3.0 cubic foot washer using 27 gallons per cycle has a water factor of 9.0). The lower the water factor, the less water the machine uses. Water factor is listed on the qualified product list.
Most ENERGY STAR-qualified washers extract more water from clothes during the spin cycle. This reduces the drying time and saves energy and wear and tear on clothes. ENERGY STAR-qualified clothes washers are available in both top-loading and front-loading designs. Top-loading models look like conventional machines from the outside, but these qualified washers use different types of washing action to get clothes clean with less water and energy. Many have sensors to monitor incoming water temperature closely. They also rinse clothes with repeated high-pressure spraying instead of soaking them in a full tub of water.
Extra energy can be saved while washing clothes, whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR-qualified model, by washing clothes in cold rather than hot water and always washing full loads. Clothes washers are most efficient when operated with full loads.
What about Clothes Dryers?
ENERGY STAR does not label clothes dryers because most dryers use similar amounts of energy. The energy a clothes dryer uses can be reduced by using the moisture sensor option on the dryer, which automatically shuts off the machine when the clothes are dry.
If the clothes washer has spin options, choosing a high spin speed or extended spin option reduces the amount of remaining moisture, thus starting the drying process before the clothes are transferred to the dryer. Finally, air drying clothes whenever possible saves the most energy of all.
Dishwashers
Replacing a dishwasher manufactured before 1994 with a new model can save more than $30 a year in utility costs. ENERGY STAR-qualified dishwashers use at least 41 percent less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption. These qualified dishwashers use much less water than conventional models. Because they use less hot water compared to new conventional models, an ENERGY STAR-qualified dishwasher saves about $90 over its lifetime.
Energy can be saved while washing dishes, whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR model, by running the dishwasher with a full load. Most of the energy used by a dishwasher goes to heat water. Since the amount of water used per cycle cannot be decreased, a full dishwasher gets the most from the energy used to run it, especially if the heat-dry, rinse-hold and pre-rinse features aren't used. Using the dishwasher's air-dry option saves energy.
Refrigerators and Freezers
In most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy-consuming kitchen appliance. Replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR-qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for nearly four months.
ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. These qualified refrigerators provide energy savings without sacrificing features. They use high-efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency.
ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerator models use at least 1 percent less energy than required by current federal standards and 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001. Qualified freezer models use at least 10 percent less energy than required by current federal standards. Qualified freezer models are available in three configurations: upright freezers with automatic defrost; upright freezers with manual defrost, and chest freezers with manual defrost only. ENERGY STAR compact refrigerators and freezers use at least 20 percent less energy than required by current federal standards. Compacts are models with volumes less than 7.75 cubic feet.
Room Air Conditioners
Replacing a 10-year-old room air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR-qualified model saves an average of $25 a year on an electric bill. These qualified room air conditioners use at least 10 percent less energy than conventional models. Qualified models often include timers for better temperature control, allowing a minimum amount of energy to cool a room.
Homeowners often buy an air conditioner that is too large, thinking it will provide better cooling. However, an oversized air conditioner is actually less effective and wastes energy at the same time. Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room quickly, but only remove some of the humidity. This leaves the room with a damp, clammy feeling. A properly sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools.
Dehumidifiers
A dehumidifier is used to remove excess moisture from the air. Some of the most common indications that a dehumidifier is needed are:
- Wet stains on walls and ceilings
- Stuffy feeling in a room
- Rotting wood
- Condensation on windows
- Musty smells
- Allergies (if the air in the home is too moist, it will encourage the growth of bacteria and mold, common allergens)
A 40-pint ENERGY STAR-qualified dehumidifier can save consumers roughly $20 per year. This can add up to $200 or more over the life of the unit -enough to pay for the dehumidifier. These qualified models have more efficient refrigeration coils, compressors, and fans than conventional models, which means they use less energy to remove moisture.
An ENERGY STAR-qualified model removes the same amount of moisture as a similarly sized standard unit, but uses 10 to 20 percent less energy. In fact, the energy saved by a qualified dehumidifier could power a refrigerator for six months.