Energy Effecient Appliances
If you live in a typical U.S. home, your appliances are responsible for about 20% of your energy bills. Refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dryers, dishwashers, and ranges and ovens are the primary energy-using appliances in most households (hot water heaters are discussed in the Water Heating section). Taking steps to save energy while using these appliances, and replacing old inefficient appliances with modern ones, can save you money.
In the United States, all refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, and dishwashers are sold with yellow EnergyGuide labels to indicate their energy efficiency. These labels provide an estimated annual operating cost for the appliance, and also indicate the cost of operating the models with the highest annual operating cost and the lowest annual operating cost. By comparing a model's annual operating cost with the operating cost of the most efficient model, you can compare their efficiencies.
Another label to help you identify energy-efficient appliances is the ENERGY STAR® label. Promoted by DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the ENERGY STAR is only awarded to appliances that significantly exceed the minimum national efficiency standards.