Appliances

Save money, time, and the environment with energy efficient appliances

Matt Gerardo, VP, BATE’S, explains the many benefits of Energy Star appliances

With the rising cost of electricity, as well as environmental concerns, first time home buyers and existing homeowners, should have ‘energy efficient’ at the top of their objectives for all home improvement projects. Household appliances designated as Energy Star will not only reduce energy costs, they are also environmentally friendly and provide more convenience. For example, Energy Star washers use about 25% less electricity and 33% less water, plus you can also wash more clothes in a single load and dry them faster — which means less loads, and less time spent in the laundry room.

In the average household, 30-45% of energy consumption is drawn from appliances being used on a day-to-day basis. This includes washer, dryer, range, refrigerator, dishwasher, and water heater. This number will be skewed for those with gas powered appliances, such as dryers and ranges, however the benefits of having Energy Star appliances cannot be ignored. Household appliances have two prices: the purchase price, and the operating cost of the appliance. Although energy efficient appliances are often the more expensive option in the short term, when compared with conventional alternatives, utility bill savings over the life of the efficient product will fully offset the initial cost and yield an impressive return on investment. According to the US Department of Energy, it is estimated that you can reduce your electricity costs up to 30% simply by switching from standard electric appliances to Energy Star models. Gas appliances are another good option and provide impressive savings measures as well. For example, a gas range or dryer will use about half the amount of energy when compared with an electric model.

As the saying goes, “the Stone Age did not end because they ran out of stones”, we transitioned to better solutions. The same opportunity lies before every homeowner with “Energy Star” and gas appliances.