Turning Off the Lights Isn’t the Only Way to Save Energy & Money

by Team HomeServe Top Tips and Lists  
Washer and dryer

The math is relatively simple: You pay for the amount of energy you consume in your home. Changing your cooking and laundering habits can help to lower the cost of running your appliances, but installing products that do the energy saving for you is another great idea.

Energy efficient appliances consume far less energy than standard ones, and they don't skimp on performance either. You can keep cooking and cleaning as you please, and yet your wallet can benefit from lower utility bills.

Sound like a good deal? Here's what you need to know about saving money with energy efficient appliances:

Why choose energy efficiency?

When it comes to lowering your electric bills, upgrading to energy saving appliances is one of the most effective home improvements you can make. For instance, a standard-sized ENERGY STAR-certified dishwasher costs only $35 a year to run, which is about 12 percent more efficient than non-certified, conventional models.

More than saving money on your monthly bills, cutting down on your energy consumption comes with additional saving opportunities. State, local and utility rebates can help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs when upgrading to energy efficient appliances. Plus, federal tax credits and other incentives are available for homeowners who use energy saving appliances and products.

If you're looking to save money on the operating costs of your household appliances, here are a few essentials tips for upgrading to energy efficient products:

1. Consider your space and appliance needs

The first step to any appliance purchase is to measure the space in your kitchen or laundry room so you can choose products that not only fit in the designated area but also have enough clearance to open doors and ventilate properly.

Next, you'll want to consider which appliances are available in energy efficient models. You can upgrade your laundry room with energy saving washers and dryers. As far as the kitchen goes, ENERGY STAR offers certified dishwashers and refrigerators, but there are currently no residential ovens, ranges or microwaves with the ENERGY STAR label. However, the Department of Energy advised choosing convection or self-cleaning ovens because they are more energy efficient than standard models.

2. Reference the labels

The gold standard in efficiency is, of course, the ENERGY STAR label. This qualification indicates that the appliances meet or exceed the minimum federal standards of efficiency and quality.

You can also reference the bright yellow-and-black Energy Guide label, which indicates the appliance's average annual energy consumption and operating costs. You'll especially want to refer to this label to compare ovens, ranges and microwaves, as you won't find the ENERGY STAR labels on these appliances.

3. Choose the right time

You can enjoy long-term savings with energy efficient appliances, but it will depend on how many appliances you invest in. You'll likely see a faster, more significant return if you upgrade all of your appliances at once. This can be costly, so you may want to wait for store promotions or new model releases, which typically are promoted in May and September.

Once your new energy efficient appliances are in place, maintain them properly to help ward off unnecessary repairs and help to further enhance their energy saving capabilities. While you're at it, complement your saving endeavors by following these tips to conserve water in your home. After that, you can hope to see your monthly bills drop!

While energy saving appliances are the superior choice, all appliances are susceptible to breakdowns and repairs. That’s why having a plan in place before breakdowns occur is always an option.

 

Being prepared before home repair issues arise is a good strategy. Plans from HomeServe can help with the costs of covered repairs. See what plans are available in your area.