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Appliances

Dishwashers

ENERGY STAR-certified dishwashers use less water and energy when compared to conventional models.In addition, look for the following when buying a dishwasher:

  • The EnergyGuide label, to compare models and estimate operating costs.
  • The right size for your home. You’ll likely spend less to operate a standard-size model less often than to run a compact model more frequently.
  • Options, to allow you to use more efficient cycles when dishes aren’t heavily soiled.

Some additional tips when it comes to energy savings with dishwashers:

  • Only run the dishwasher when it is full (not overloaded).
  • Let dishes air dry instead of using your dishwasher’s heated dry setting.
  • If your dishwasher has an internal heating element that boosts water temperature, set your home’s water heater to 120°F.

Refrigerators

Pay attention to the ENERGY STAR and EnergyGuide labels, to compare models and ensure you are buying an efficient product.

Follow these tips to reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator uses:

  • Set the temperature at 35˚to 38˚F for refrigerators and 0˚F for standalone freezers.
  • Keep the door closed as much as possible.
  • Place the refrigerator away from the oven or dishwasher and out of direct sunlight.
  • Leave a few inches between the wall and the refrigerator, and keep the condenser coils clean on older models. Check the user’s manual for instructions.

Additional Kitchen Energy Tips

  • Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better, and you will save energy.
  • Cover pots and pans when you cook. You’ll use less energy.
  • Match the size of the pan to the heating element.
  • Use small appliances such as toaster ovens, electric pressure cookers, microwave ovens, or convection ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven.
  • Replace light bulbs and light fixtures with ENERGY STAR certified products; kitchen lights are some of the most used in a house.

Laundry

Clothes washers and dryers are some of the largest energy consumers of any home appliances. ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers use less energy, less water, and have greater capacity, allowing you to wash the same amount of laundry in fewer loads.

Follow these tips to reduce your energy use while doing laundry:

  • Warm or cold water is generally sufficient to clean your laundry; most of the energy used by clothes washers goes to heating water. Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load’s energy use in half, and using cold water will save even more.
  • Try to wash full loads and use an appropriate water setting if you must wash a small load. Use the high-speed or extended spin cycle to remove as much moisture as possible before drying.
  • When buying a new clothes dryer, look for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryers use about 20% less energy than conventional models. Many have a moisture sensor that automatically adjusts the amount of heat being used and shuts off the dryer when the load is dry.