Energy Star Appliances: Are They Worth It?
Energy Star Light Bulb (Photo credit: Jenn Durfey)
Browsing through the appliances section of any major department store or online retailer, it’s hard not to notice that little yellow label with “EnergyGuide” emblazoned across the top. This is the Energy Star rating for that particular appliance. This rating is the federal standard designed and overseen by the U.S. environmental protection agency in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy. Simply put, Energy Star aims to monitor appliance manufacturing in order to ensure that products on the show floor today are more energy efficient than those in years past. And that begs the question: does it succeed in doing so?
It’s hardly a secret that Energy Star-qualified appliances are more expensive than other models. And due to many a citizen’s natural skepticism of government oversight, these same people wonder if these appliances will truly save them money in the long run. The simple answer is that they will. And here’s why:
Older appliances are not energy efficient
It’s not a stretch to assume that Energy Star-rated appliances are more efficient than more antiquated appliances, because the older models don’t have a great track record regarding consumption. Take the refrigerator for example. Home refrigerators account for a large portion of energy use, and according to the Washington Post, the average person changes his or her refrigerator once every fifteen years. With the current Energy Star standards, consumers can save up to 30% on their refrigerator energy usage by switching to a new Energy Star model.
In other words, it’s possible to save $100 or more per month on utility bills with an Energy Star-rated refrigerator.
Traditional home heating and cooling systems use a lot of energy
Refrigerators may contribute greatly to utility bills, but heating and cooling systems are typically responsible for over half of these charges per month. People often change habits regarding when and how they use the A/C or the boiler, and while this is certainly a good thing, it doesn’t make much of a dent. Switching to Energy Star HVAC systems can drastically cut the power bills.
Energy Star appliances use less water
Those who are using an older-model dishwasher are likely seeing large water bills every month. That’s because these older dishwashers don’t come equipped with the “economy” settings modern Energy Star washers do. And hand washing dishes? That’s even worse. One German study cited on the Energy Star website states that hand washing uses five times as much water as a modern dishwasher.
Energy Star buildings benefit cities
Energy Star certification (Photo credit: MoneyBlogNewz)
Homes throughout the U.S. are meeting Energy Star standards, but they aren’t the only ones. Commercial buildings are also getting in on the act, and curbing emissions in the process. According to U.S. News, out of 25 metro areas in America with certified buildings, Chicago saw the greatest effect: curbing the equivalent of 54,000 single homes worth of emissions.
These are just a few of the reasons why it makes sense to upgrade to Energy-Star rated appliances. But just as important is the fact that those who outfit their homes with these appliances are also doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint.
Rhonda Dinn is a digital content developer for Touch Free Concepts. She is focused on improving the health of people both at home and in the workplace by educating people on their hands free options for their facilities.
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Category: Saving Money
