Energy Star Appliances Help Consumers and Environment

	Auburn, March 15,2003---Energy Star-labeled appliances save consumers money and use less 
electricity and water than other appliances, says Barbara Mobley, an Extension money management 
specialist.  
	The Energy Star rating label may be found on clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers and 
room air-conditioners.  An appliance receives the Energy Star rating if it is significantly more energy 
efficient than the minimum federal standards. Some Energy Star appliances exceed the minimum 
standards by as much as 20 percent. 
	“Although Energy Star models sometimes cost more to purchase initially, any extra up-front costs 
can often be made up with savings on utility bills,” Mobley says.  
	Energy Star clothes washers use superior designs that require less water to get clothes 
thoroughly clean.  These machines use sensors to match the hot water needs to the load, preventing 
energy waste.  The savings include using 30 to 40 percent less energy per load, less wear and tear on 
clothes and  better water extraction, meaning less dryer time. 
	A typical household does nearly 400 loads of laundry a year, using about 40 gallons of water per 
full load with a conventional washer.  In contrast, a full size Energy Star washer uses 20 to 25 gallons per 
load.  Consumers could save as much as 7,000 gallons of water per year.  In addition, the savings of all 
the energy that would have been needed to heat the water, adds up to savings for the consumer and the 
environment.
	The refrigerator is the single biggest power consumer in most households.  A typical refrigerator 
made around 1990 uses about 900 kilowatt hours per year – that’s the same amount of energy you would 
use by leaving a 1,250 watt hair dryer on for a month!  And the older a refrigerator is, the more power it 
burns. 
       Energy Star refrigerator manufacturers use a number of advanced features to save energy such 
as better insulation, more efficient compressors, improved heat transfer surfaces, and more precise 
temperature and defrost mechanisms.
       Energy Star dishwashers save by using improved technology for the primary wash cycle and less 
hot water to clean.  Construction includes energy-efficient motors and other advance technology such as 
sensors that determine the length of the washing cycle and the temperature of the water necessary to 
clean the dishes. 
	Air-conditioners with Energy Star feature high efficiency compressors, fan motors and heat 
transfer surfaces.
	In an air-conditioner, the air is cooled when it passes over the refrigerant coils, which have fins, 
similar to an automobile radiator.  The compressor sends the cooled refrigerant through the coils, and air 
cools as it is forced over the coils.  By using advanced heat transfer technologies, more of the heat from 
the air is transferred into the coils than in conventional models, saving energy required to compress the 
refrigerant.
	It is important to buy an air-conditioner that is the correct size for the room, Mobley says.  Air-
conditioners remove heat and humidity from the air. Humidity is removed when the air in a room passes 
over the cooling coils of an air conditioner. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room quickly but only 
remove a portion of the humidity.  This leaves the room with a damp, clammy feeling, since the air will not 
have circulated enough.  A properly sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools. Running a 
smaller unit for a longer time will use less energy to completely condition a room than running a larger 
unit for a shorter time.
	Energy Star appliances are carried by retailers nationwide, says Mobley. 

Source:  Barbara Mobley, a Money Management Specialist with the Alabama Cooperative 
Extension System.