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Newer appliances are almost always more efficient than old ones, but payback periods are hard to determine. Any appliance that’s 10 years old or in need of costly repairs is a good candidate for replacement.
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When shopping for appliances, look for the yellow EnergyGuide label to compare estimated annual energy costs and overall efficiency.
Question: I’m in the market for new, energy-efficient appliances in my kitchen, laundry room and living room. How can I find the most efficient models, and how do I evaluate the potential payback period?
Answer: When shopping for major appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and large-screen TVs, look for the yellow EnergyGuide label required by the Federal Trade Commission. It is the best way to determine the typical energy cost to use a device, but there is a catch.
The labels show estimated annual operating costs based on national averages for appliance use and energy costs. The assumptions built into the cost estimate are spelled out in the fine print on the label. Your actual costs maybe higher or lower depending on how energy conscious you are, how much you use the device and the real costs of electricity in your area.
While the EnergyGuide figures may not be precise to your situation, they can help you evaluate which machines are more efficient overall. The comparison scale on the label clearly shows how the appliance stacks up against the least and most efficient models within its class.
Another useful tool is the federal government’s Energy Star label. To earn the Energy Star rating, manufacturers must prove that an appliance uses less electricity than comparable machines. The standards vary by appliance and may take other factors into consideration. An Energy Star-rated clothes washer, for example, must use 20 percent less energy and 35 percent less water than regular washers. To learn more about the specific requirements for household appliances, visit here.
Touchstone Energy, a national coalition of not-for-profit electric cooperatives, has two digital tools that you might find useful in evaluating potential savings from appliance upgrades. Visit TogetherWeSave and click on the “Energy Savings Home Tour” tab for a room-by-room analysis featuring savings calculators and fact sheets.
Touchstone’s free TogetherWeSave.com smartphone app, available for Apple and Android devices, also features savings calculators for everything from lightbulbs to major appliances.
As a general rule, it’s hard to determine when an appliance upgrade will pay you back in energy savings. While newer appliances are almost always more efficient than older ones, it rarely makes economic sense to replace existing appliances unless they are at least 10 years old or need expensive repairs. If you make a concerted effort to use your older appliances as efficiently as possible, you can keep annual energy costs low without spending an additional dime.
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Easy ways to save
Clothes Washer
- Water heating accounts for about 90 percent of the energy your machine uses. Washing with cold water can save $30 to $40 annually.
Clothes Dryer
- Clean the lint trap before each and every load.
- Run loads made up of similar fabrics, so the entire load dries in one cycle.
Dishwashers
- Run full loads whenever possible.
- Select the no-heat drying option.
Refrigerators
- Keep your refrigerator at 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the fridge in a cool place away from heat sources such as ovens.
- Make sure seals around the door are airtight. If not, replace them.
- Keep the condenser coils clean if it’s an older model.