Saving Energy in Your Home

The latest scientific data confirm that the earth's climate is rapidly changing. Global temperatures increased by about 1 degree Fahrenheit over the course of the last century, and will likely rise even more rapidly in coming decades. The cause? A thickening layer of carbon dioxide pollution, mostly from power plants and automobiles, which traps heat in the atmosphere.

Scientists say that unless global warming emissions are reduced, average U.S. temperatures could rise another 3 to 9 degrees by the end of the century – with far-reaching effects.

The less energy we all use, the lower our demand on power plants, which means less pollution – and more savings on our utility bills. One thing you can do to reduce your energy demands is to use energy efficient appliances.

Appliances

The major appliances in your home – refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers –account for a big chunk of the energy you use in your home. And if your refrigerator or washing machine is more than a decade old, you're spending a lot more on energy than you need to.

Today's major appliances don't hog energy the way older models do because they must meet minimum federal energy efficiency standards. These standards have been tightened over the years, so any new appliance you buy today has to use less energy than the model you're replacing. For instance, if you buy one of today's most energy-efficient refrigerators, it will use less than half the energy of a model that's 12 years old or older.

The easy way to do your part to save energy is to look for the ENERGY STAR logo when purchasing a new appliance.

Clothes Washers

On average, ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers use 50% less energy and water than conventional washers.

• qualified clothes washers save up to 7,000 gallons of water a year—more than most people will drink in a lifetime
• qualified clothes washers extract more water from clothes during the spin cycle, reducing the drying time, saving energy and wear and tear on clothes
• ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers save up to $65 a year on energy bills

Dishwashers

ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use 25% less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption. Because it uses less hot water compared to conventional models, an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher will save about $100 over the lifetime of the product.

• ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers have more efficient motors, pumps and improved washing systems
• many models feature internal water heaters and efficient cycles which improve cleaning and reduce hot water tank demand
• ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers save energy two ways: through the electricity used to operate the machine and through the energy used to heat the dishwater

Refrigerators

ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators require only about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. ENERGY STAR qualified models use at least 15% less energy than required by current federal standards.

• ENERGY STAR qualified models use high-efficiency compressors and improved insulation and door seals to help reduce energy consumption
• better temperature control mechanisms are often found on ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators meaning that the consumer can more accurately regulate the internal temperature, resulting in fresher food
• ENERGY STAR qualified models come in various configurations and have convenient features such as through-the-door ice makers found on standard models