HE-0851 Energy Star® Appliances
Energy Star® Appliances
ENERGY STAR Appliances
ENERGY STAR-labeled appliances save you money by using less electricity and water than other appliances. Better appliance energy efficiency comes from using quality materials and technologically advanced materials.
Although energy efficient models sometimes cost more to purchase, extra upfront cost can often be made up with savings on your utility bill. One helpful way to figure out if buying an ENERGY STAR appliance makes sense for you is to think of two price tags.
The first price tag is the purchase price that you pay at the store when you buy the appliance. Some local utilities offer rebates on the purchase and installation of ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. If yours does, this would reduce the initial price.
The second price tag is the cost to operate the appliance over its lifetime. You pay to operate the appliance every month for as long as you own the appliance. You might be surprised to see how much it can cost to own an appliance that seems like a good deal up front.
What is an ENERGY STAR appliance?
The ENERGY STAR may be found on clothes washers, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, room air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. An appliance earns the ENERGY STAR label if it is significantly more energy efficient than the minimum government standards, as determined by standard testing procedures. The amount by which an appliance must exceed the minimum standards
is different for each product rated and depends on available technology. ENERGY STAR-rated products are always among the most efficient on the market.
ENERGY STAR clothes washers
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.
There are two designs: front-loading and top-loading. Both designs will get clothes cleaner and take better care of your fabrics while using less water and energy than standard washing machines.
Front-loading ENERGY STAR models are similar in design to washers used in self-service laundries. These horizontal-axis or tumble-action machines repeatedly lift and drop clothes instead of moving clothes around a central axis.
Top-loading ENERGY STAR washers use sensor technology to closely control the incoming water temperature. To reduce water consumption, they spray clothes with repeated high-pressure rinses to remove soap residues rather than soak them in a full tub of rinse water.
What does this mean to you?
- Nearly 35 to 50 percent less water and 50 percent less energy is used per load
- Washer design causes less wear and tear on clothes
- Bulky items such as blankets fit easily in the super capacity basket
- Better water extraction means less dryer time, for further energy savings
A typical household washes nearly 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per full load with a conventional washer. In contrast, a full-size ENERGY STAR clothes washer uses 18 to 25 gallons per load. You could save as much as 7,000
gallons of water per year. And, you are saving all the energy that would have been needed to heat that water. This adds up to savings for you and a big boost for the environment.
How do I choose the right washer?
ENERGY STAR clothes washers come in a range of capacities from about 1.6 cubic feet up to 2.9 cubic feet. A typical large-capacity washer, such as those in most households, is about 2.7 cubic feet.
Because washers are most efficient when they are fully loaded, you should choose a size that most closely matches your laundry needs. For a family that washes a lot of laundry, one of the larger models probably makes the most sense. For individuals or couples who
wash less laundry, a small model will be the most economical.
Some ENERGY STAR models can be stacked or mounted under a countertop, which is a useful feature for people who are short on space. Check with the manufacturer to see which models are available with this option.
ENERGY STAR refrigerators and freezers
In most households, the refrigerator is the biggest energy-consuming kitchen appliance. 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 hairdryer on for a
month! And the older your refrigerator is, the more power it burns. ENERGY STAR refrigerators incorporate a number of advanced features to save energy while keeping your food fresh. To make a better refrigerator, manufacturers use:
- Better insulation
- More efficient compressors
- Improved heat transfer surfaces
- More precise temperature and defrost mechanisms
With improved insulation, the compressor runs less often. Because the compressor runs less often and therefore produces less heat while it is running, the kitchen remains cooler. This, in turn, reduces the need to air condition the room as much to maintain the
same comfort level. ENERGY STAR refrigerators use at least 15 percent less energy than required by current federal standards for energy consumption, and 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001. ENERGY STAR–qualified freezers use
100 percent less energy than required by current federal standards.
Manual defrost refrigerators are not covered under the ENERGY STAR program, but are generally more efficient than automatic defrost refrigerators. Proper maintenance of manual defrost refrigerators is necessary to save energy. The Department of Energy offers tips on buying refrigerators and lowering the amount of energy your refrigerator uses.
ENERGY STAR dishwashers
ENERGY STAR dishwashers save both by using improved technology for the primary wash cycle and by using less hot water to clean. Construction includes energy efficient motors and other advanced technology, such as sensors that determine the length of the washing
cycle and the temperature of the water necessary to clean the dishes.
Minimizing the amount of hot water needed can lead to significant savings. Dishwashers use built-in electric heaters to heat water to a temperature hot enough to clean the dishes effectively. ENERGY STAR dishwashers minimize the amount of water needed, saving the energy required to heat it, in addition to other efficiencies. ENERGY STAR dishwashers use at least 41 percent less energy than other dishwashers that meet minimum federal standards for energy consumption.
ENERGY STAR room air conditioners
ENERGY STAR room air conditioners feature highefficiency compressors, fan motors, and heat transfer surfaces. ENERGY STAR-qualified room air conditioners use at least 10 percent less energy than conventional models.
In an air conditioner, the air is cooled when it passes over the refrigerant coils, which have fins similar to those in an automobile radiator. The compressor sends the cooled refrigerant through the coils and cools the air 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. 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 will remove only a portion of the humidity. This leaves the room with a damp, clammy feeling because the air will not have been 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 Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers help remove excess moisture from the air. They can be helpful in your home’s damp rooms, such as basements. Reducing moisture in a room can also reduce musty smells caused by mold and mildew. ENERGY STAR-qualified dehumidifiers use less energy than conventional models to remove moisture because they are built with more efficient refrigeration coils,
compressors, and fans.
An ENERGY STAR-qualified dehumidifier removes the same amount of moisture as one that does not carry the ENERGY STAR label, but it uses 10 to 20 percent less energy. This can save consumers roughly $20 per year in energy costs and up to $300 over the
life of this appliance.
What about other types of appliances?
Other appliance types are not currently covered by the ENERGY STAR program. However, it is always important to consider energy efficiency when purchasing any appliance. The Department of Energy offers guidelines and tips on purchasing clothes dryers, ovens and ranges, and water heaters.
Where can I get ENERGY STAR appliances?
ENERGY STAR appliances are carried by retailers nationwide. To see a list of all qualified products or to find specific models that qualify for the ENERGY STAR rating, go to the ENERGY STAR Web site at www.energystar.gov or call (888) STAR-YES .
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps businesses, organizations, and individuals save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and
practices. For more information on energy efficiency, call the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Energy, Weatherization and Technology Division at (800) 392-8098 or go to their Web site at www.adeca.alabama.gov.
Recommended for use in Alabama by Laura Booth, Extension Program Associate, Alabama Cooperative
Extension System, Auburn University, and Karen Clifton of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
Adapted from “Energy Star Appliances,” Environmental Protection Agency, by Janie Harris, Housing and Environment Specialist, Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University System, October 1999.
Funding through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Energy, Weatherization and Technology Division, Bob Riley, Governor. This publication was prepared with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy Grant No. DE -FG26-05R410960. However, any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily
reflect the views of DOE.
Trade and brand names used in this publication are given for information purposes only. No guarantee, endorsement, or discrimination among comparable products is intended or implied by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and
home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related
acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama
Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn
University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal
opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.
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