High Energy Use Appliances

Purchase green energy appliances, also called energy-efficient appliances, to reduce your environmental impact and save money on utility costs. Whether you are replacing a broken appliance, upgrading to more efficient models or purchasing all new appliances for a recently built home, investing in green energy appliances is a responsible and practical choice. The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star program simplifies the process of determining an appliance's energy efficiency. 

High-Energy-Use Appliances

When possible, prioritize appliance upgrades based upon the appliances with the greatest impact. Heaters and air conditioners use more energy than any other home appliances, followed by water heaters, refrigerators and freezers, and washers and dryers. Though not technically an appliance, lights account for a significant portion of energy consumption. The categories of small electronic devices and home office and entertainment are also large consumers. 

Energy Star 

The Energy Star program is a government-backed ratings system that ensures certain efficiency standards. Created to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Energy Star appliances must contribute substantial nationwide energy savings. In addition, they must be comparable in overall features and performance to similar less-efficient models. If a product is more expensive than comparable models because of the added energy efficiency, consumers must be able to recoup their initial investment money within a reasonable time frame. 

Rebates and Incentives 

Many local, state and federal rebate and incentive programs exist to offset the initial cost of energy-efficient appliances. Check with your local water and energy utilities for programs available in your area. The most common appliances eligible for rebates include high-efficiency refrigerators, washing machines, lighting products and cooling systems. 

Appliance Recycling 

Proper disposal of old appliances is an important part of the process of energy-efficient upgrades. Many retailers take away old appliances when delivering new ones, with the cost being built into the purchase price. City municipalities offer 12,000 appliance recycling programs nationwide. Private companies collect and properly dispose of some home appliances. []

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