Did you know that upgrading your appliances can increase your home’s efficiency and reduce your monthly utility bills? If you’re curious about energy-efficient appliances but don’t have time to research every model on the market, don’t fret. In this guide, our appliance experts at Garner Appliance & Mattress summarize everything you need to know about energy-efficient appliances.
Benefits of Energy-Efficient Appliances
- Lower Utility Bills: Energy-efficient appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers are designed to perform as well or better than conventional appliances while using fewer resources, which can help lower your utility bills.
- Convenience: Many energy-efficient appliances use sensors and other smart features to automatically engage the most efficient setting for each task, so you can relax and let the appliance choose the right mode while you focus on more important things.
- Reduce Emissions: By using less energy, energy-efficient appliances help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause pollution and contribute to climate change.
- Relieve Strained Power Grids: Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances helps reduce the strain on power grids, which are increasingly overloaded with demand. Overloaded energy grids are more likely to experience blackouts and rate increases; reducing your household energy needs can help prevent such inconveniences.
Downsides of Energy-Efficient Appliances
- Higher Purchase Price: The upfront costs for energy-efficient appliances are slightly higher than those for conventional resource-draining models. However, most consumers will recoup the cost over the lifespan of the appliance thanks to lower monthly utility bills.
Tips for Choosing an Energy-Efficient Appliance
1. Look for ENERGY STAR®- Certified Models
Every appliance awarded ENERGY STAR certification meets or exceeds the EPA’s strict energy and performance standards, so use ENERGY STAR as your guide when shopping for energy-efficient appliances.
Stop by one of our three convenient Triangle locations to shop our vast selection of ENERGY STAR-certified appliances, or check out our selection of ENERGY STAR appliances from the comfort of your home:
- Energy-efficient clothes washers (washing machines)
- Energy-efficient dryers
- Energy-efficient dishwashers
- Energy-efficient refrigerators and freezers
- Energy-efficient laundry pairs
2. Use the EnergyGuide to Compare
After you’ve narrowed your search to your top choices, use the large yellow EnergyGuide labels to compare each model’s average annual cost and energy consumption. The EnergyGuide is a valuable comparison tool since all estimates for similar models are based on the same usage parameters.
Each EnergyGuide also features a simple number line that shows the highest and lowest annual operating costs of similar models. With a quick glance at the number line, you can determine if the model you’re considering is more or less efficient than comparable models.
The estimates on the EnergyGuide are based on average usage, so your annual operating costs or energy consumption may differ depending on your usage.
3. Choose the Appliance that Meets Your Needs
Energy-efficient appliances often include features that sound appealing in theory, but make sure you choose a model with features that you’ll actually use.
If you’ve compared the EnergyGuide information of your top choices but still can’t decide which energy-efficient appliance to purchase, consider how you will use the product on a daily basis. Once you start imagining the appliance in your home, you might realize that you don’t need a dishwasher with a top-rack-only cycle, but you do need one with a sanitizing option.
At Garner Appliance & Mattress, we are here to help you find products that will improve your home’s efficiency while reducing your monthly bills. We carry all the brands you trust, so stop by one of our three Triangle locations and experience the difference of shopping at a local appliance store.