Why
The energy used by refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and other appliances adds up quickly; refrigerators alone account for 19% of household electricity use in California. The ENERGY STAR® program identifies appliances that offer superior energy efficiency, making it easy to choose appliances that will save you energy, water and money.
Recommendation
Use ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances in new construction, and consider replacing older appliances with higher-efficiency ENERGY STAR-qualified models. ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators, for example, require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993.
Look for This Label
ENERGY STAR is a label that identifies energy-efficient products, such as appliances, which meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy designed to help save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices. It began as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products. Computer products were the first to be labeled.
You'll see the ENERGY STAR logo on all kinds of things: complete homes and mobile homes click here for info, building components such as windows, air conditioners and furnaces; plus appliances, computers, monitors, televisions, ceiling fans, thermostats and photocopiers. ENERGY STAR efficiency requirements vary for different types of equipment.
ENERGY STAR Appliance Highlights
Major appliances can remain in operation for 15 to 20 years, so a higher initial purchase price is easily offset by years of savings from lower operational costs-the cost of the electricity, gas and water required to run the appliance.
Remember, the ENERGY STAR program only sets minimum standards, so you'll find a range of choices-products that barely meet the standards and those that exceed them by a wide margin. The yellow EnergyGuide tag displayed on the appliance supplies details on the official energy rating.
Major Residential Appliances
Refrigerators
The refrigerator is often the single biggest electricity consumer in households, accounting for about 19% of residential electricity usage in California.
ENERGY STAR refrigerators use at least 15% less energy than the current federal standard. They are more efficient because they are built better, with high-efficiency compressors, improved insulation, tighter door seals and more precise temperature and defrost control.
ENERGY STAR refrigerators are available in all price and size ranges, from mini units through giant 30-cubic-foot units, with the best selection between 18- and 22-cubic-foot. The selection in the 14- to 17-cubic-foot range is more limited.
Refrigerators are among the largest users of electricity in most homes. Here are some other important considerations for saving refrigeration energy:
- Bottom freezer models are generally the most efficient; side-by-side models are the least efficient.
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It usually costs less to run one large refrigerator than it does to operate two smaller ones.
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Manual defrost models use half the energy of models with automatic defrost but must be defrosted periodically to remain energy efficient.
- Automatic icemakers and through-the-door dispensers will increase energy use.
The most energy-efficient size range is 16-20 cubic feet.
A second refrigerator or a freezer in the garage may be costing you as much as $200 a year.
All refrigerators become less efficient with time, because refrigerant wears out and seals start to leak.
Dishwashers
ENERGY STAR dishwashers are at least 41% more energy-efficient than the federal minimum standard. These units save water-heating energy by using an internal water heater to boost temperatures inside the dishwasher. Because you won't need super-hot dishwashing water from your home water heater, you can reduce your hot water heater temperature setting to 120°F and save significant water-heating costs. Units also feature high-efficiency motors and advanced sensors that determine the length of the wash cycle and the temperature of the water necessary to clean dishes, allowing shorter cycles for light loads.
Washing Machines
ENERGY STAR washing machines are at least 50% more energy-efficient than the federal minimum standard. These savings are gained by improving moisture extraction from final rinses and matching hot water temperatures to specific loads. Higher water extraction reduces drying time significantly, saving energy. Horizontal (front-loading) models use premium motors and tumble laundry in a low volume of water compared to standard top-loading models. These washers use only half as much water per load!!
Other Ways to Improve Appliance Efficiency
Keep the Refrigerator Cool: Position your refrigerator away from heat sources such as the oven or direct sunlight from a window.
Close the Door: Don't keep the refrigerator door open any longer than you need to.
Check the Gasket: The refrigerator door should close firmly against the gasket-the rubber-like seal around the refrigerator door. Just close the door on a dollar bill, and then see how easy it is to pull out. If the dollar slides out easily, the door is probably leaking cold air from inside. Worn, leaking gaskets should be replaced.
Let Food Cool: Let food cool before putting it in the refrigerator so the refrigerator does not use energy unnecessarily.
Clean the Coils: Clean the coils on the back of the refrigerator once a year. Unplug the refrigerator before cleaning the coils. Use a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush.
Set the Temperature to the Least Cold Setting: Set the temperature only as high as you really need, usually 35-38°F.
Use a Clothesline: Clotheslines exceed federal energy minimum standards by 100%!
Wash Full Loads of Laundry: If you must wash a small load, adjust the water-level setting.
Use Cold or Warm Water: To save money, use hot water only for very dirty clothes.
Don't Wash Clean Clothes: Wear clothes until they are dirty instead of tossing them in the wash after one use. Hang them to air out after each wearing to keep them fresh. Use soap and water to remove a spot from an otherwise clean garment rather than washing the entire garment.
Remove the Lint: Clean the dryer's lint screen before every use, and make sure that the exhaust vent is not blocked by lint.
Wash Full Loads of Dishes: Run the dishwasher only when it's fully loaded. If necessary, scrape dirty dishes and store them in the dishwasher until you have a full load.
Use Energy-Saving Settings: Many dishwashers have energy-saving settings, such as a setting for partial loads (which use less hot water) or energy-efficient drying cycles. Check your owner's manual to learn about your dishwasher's settings.
Use Appliances Off-Peak: If you can work it into your schedule, use your dishwasher, washer and other appliances at night to reduce energy demand at "peak" times. This helps reduce the need for new power plants.
Cost and Cost Effectiveness
The true cost of an appliance is the purchase price plus the cost to operate and maintain it over its lifetime. Major appliances can remain in operation for 15 to 20 years, so a higher initial purchase price is easily offset by years of savings from lower operational costs-the cost of the electricity, gas and water required to run the appliance.
Federal law requires a bright yellow EnergyGuide label to be placed on many types of home appliances, including refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers and clothes washers.
The EnergyGuide label gives you two important pieces of information you can use to compare different brands and models when shopping for a new appliance:
- Estimated energy consumption on a scale showing a range for similar models.
- Estimated yearly operating cost based on the national average cost of electricity. Your exact costs will depend on local utility rates and the type and source of your energy.
EnergyGuide labels frequently note whether the product is ENERGY STAR qualified.
The additional cost to purchase ENERGY STAR appliances, as well as the potential savings in operational costs, will depend upon the style, quality and features desired in the appliance. In most cases the reduced operating cost of a more energy-efficient appliance is sufficient to easily pay back its higher initial cost.
If you know the model number of your refrigerator or freezer, you may want to use the ENERGY STAR Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator to get a better idea of the relative operating cost of your current model in comparison to a new ENERGY STAR qualified model.
Code Considerations
Title 24 does not require the use of ENERGY STAR appliances, but specifying ENERGY STAR can improve a project's efficiency by at least 20% beyond what is required by Title 24.
All major appliances display a large yellow EnergyGuide tag. The information on the EnergyGuide tag helps consumers compare the operating cost of similar models when shopping for new appliances. All new refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, dishwashers, clothes washers, room air conditioners, central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and boilers have an EnergyGuide label. EnergyGuide labels frequently note whether the product is ENERGY STAR qualified.
An average new auto-defrost refrigerator with top mount freezer in 1972 used about 2,000 kWh/yr. A new unit today consumes less than 500 kWh/yr.
Southern California Edison offers a refrigerator and freezer recycling program. SCE will pay you $35 for your old fridge and $50 for your old freezer, and haul them away for free. SCE also offers you a $50 rebate when you purchase a new ENERGY STAR refrigerator.
