When shopping for electrical appliances for
your home, don’t be fooled by the price tag. The least expensive model may not
be the bargain it would seem at first glance. It could cost a fortune to
operate—an expense that adds up year after year, for as long as you own the
appliance.
While energy-efficient products tend to cost
more than their energy-guzzling cousins, the higher initial investment may be
offset by lower energy use. An energy-efficient appliance that costs $200 more
than a less-efficient model—but that results in an energy savings of $100 a
year—will pay for itself in just two years. Because most major appliances
remain in the home for many years, that makes the more expensive model a far
better bargain.
Deciphering Energy Usage
The energy efficiency of similar appliances
can vary significantly. Unfortunately, merely looking at various models won’t
necessarily reveal the differences. However, the EnergyGuide can help you
comparison shop.
The bright yellow stickers show the highest
and lowest energy consumption or efficiency estimates of similar appliance
models, based on test procedures established by the Department of Energy (DOE).
This information enables consumers to compare the features, size and energy
usage of models they are considering. From “uses least energy” to “uses
most energy,” a scale shows how a model stacks up against the competition.
Since 1980, the Federal Trade Commission has
required the EnergyGuide labels to be displayed on refrigerators, freezers,
dishwashers, clothes washers, room air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces,
boilers, central air conditioners, heat pumps and pool heaters. Labels are not
required on clothes dryers, portable space heaters, kitchen ranges, microwave
ovens, lights or on-demand water heaters.
Improving Energy Efficiency
According to the DOE, the EnergyGuide label
has helped boost energy efficiency. Refrigerator efficiency has doubled through
foam insulation and better condensers, compressors, evaporators, fan motors and
door seals. The same things have improved freezers by 52 percent. Improved spray
arms and filtering systems, better wash action, less hot water usage and
introduction of an air-dry cycle have boosted dishwasher efficiency by 37
percent. New coil designs, more efficient compressors and better air circulation
systems have improved air conditioners by 29 percent. Thanks to more rinse
options, less hot water in the warm setting, better mixing valves and more
effective water extraction, clothes washers are 27 percent more efficient.
Improved fan motors and heat exchangers have boosted furnace efficiency by 21
percent. Better insulation and improved recovery efficiency have improved water
heater performance by 12 to 15 percent.
Efficiency Equals Savings
According to the DOE, through 2000,
consumers saved a cumulative $28 billion and enough natural gas to heat 19
million typical U.S. homes for a year, thanks to energy efficiency standards and
labeling programs. In the year 2000 alone, the standards helped reduce the use
of electricity by an amount equivalent to the output of 14 large power plants.
Advances in energy efficiency have meant ongoing financial savings for
consumers.
According to industry officials, a new
energy-efficient refrigerator costs about $50 less a year to run than a
refrigerator manufactured in 1980. New room air conditioners cost about $26 less
a year to run than those of 20 years ago. Household savings vary based on how
much an appliance is used, the climate and local utility rates.