Looking for ways to make an impact on your wallet and the world? Look no further than your own home. ENERGY STAR appliances can help you reduce utility bills while conserving natural resources.
What Is ENERGY STAR?
In 1992, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced ENERGY STAR as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce pollution. According to the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), ENERGY STAR qualified appliances can save 20% to 30% in energy costs over the course of one year. To earn the ENERGY STAR, a product must meet certain criteria:
- The product uses 10% to 66% less energy and / or water than standard models.
- The product meets minimum energy conservation standards set by the DOE.
If You Make the Switch
The U.S. EPA and DOE state that a clothes washer, dishwasher and refrigerator can account for up to 20% of a household's monthly utility bill. If you're making the switch to ENERGY STAR, these appliances should be first in mind.
Your Washing Machine
- The water you save every year by purchasing a new ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer over a new nonqualifying model is more water than the average person drinks in their lifetime — and it's enough to do two year's worth of laundry.
- Full-sized ENERGY STAR qualified washers use 14 to 25 gallons of water per load, compared to more than 40 gallons used by a standard machine. For example, top-loading washing machines can save as much as 10,000 gallons of water per year.
- Front-loading washing machines can save even more — up to 12,584 gallons of water per year.
Your Dishwasher
- The energy you save every year by purchasing a new ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher over a new nonqualifying model is enough to brew nearly 9,000 cups of coffee.
- Washing dishes by hand uses up to 27 gallons of water versus the 5 gallons of water used by many ENERGY STAR dishwashers. That's a savings of more than 4,700 gallons of water a year.
- According to the EPA and DOE, switching to an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher can save up to 10% in energy operating costs per year.
Your Refrigerator
- A new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator uses less energy than a 60-watt light bulb.
The True Cost of an Appliance
When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags:
- The cost to take it home
- The cost of the energy and / or water to use it
To know the yearly cost of running an appliance, start by looking at the yellow and black Federal Trade Commission's EnergyGuide label. Manufactures are required to display the label on many appliances including refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, air conditioners and water heaters.
The label provides information on how much energy the appliance uses, compares energy use of similar products and lists approximate annual operating costs. Exact costs will depend on local utility rates and the source of your energy. Looking at the EnergyGuide label can be a key factor in helping you make a decision on an appliance. For example, a refrigerator with a yearly operating cost of $50 may be more expensive to buy than a refrigerator with a yearly operating cost of $70. However, if you take into account a $20 annual savings over an appliance's lifetime, you might be saving more money in the long run by investing up front in an energy-efficient appliance. In addition, an EnergyGuide label usually states whether an appliance is ENERGY STAR qualified. The ENERGY STAR logo assures that the appliance meets or exceeds the ENERGY STAR performance level. Because an ENERGY STAR qualified appliance uses 10% to 66% less water and / or energy than standard models, you can save money in addition to resources.
New Ways to Save
You can save even more money through energy rebate programs from local utilities and energy efficiency groups. More than 28 million people in the United States and Canada are eligible for a rebate or tax credit for purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified appliance. Some areas offer as much as $200.
Check out www.energystar.gov to get up-to-date information on local rebates and to learn more about the ENERGY STAR program.
In addition, Lowes.com/energy offers advice on making your home more energy efficient, as well as other smart energy-saving tips.
Information provided by Whirlpool®
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