Best Appliances for Energy Efficient Homes in America

PUBLISHED: May 22, 2017 • 6 MINS READ

With a large chunk of money and time invested in owning or leasing the ideal home, our expectations are always sky high. The rosy picture gets murky when costs shoot up and you realize that your home is consuming more units of electricity than it should be. So to paint a happy picture, the mantra of energy efficiency in your appliances, in & around your dwelling is quite important.

Most of the electricity used in our homes comes from burning fossil fuel like coal in power plants. In effect, the average home causes more damage to the environment than the average car.

Using appliances that are energy efficient saves energy as well as money. Studies state that households have saved up to $400 per annum by using energy efficient appliances. You should also opt for energy efficient home appliances.

Advice on buying electrical appliances for energy efficiency

By opting for appliances that are energy efficient, you get one step closer to sustainable living.

Energy Star Appliances

Energy Star is the sign for energy efficient appliances. Created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, it helps consumers understand the energy efficiency of the product. This helps you save money, and minimize environmental damage in the long run.

The label may be found on anything from washers and dryers to computers and all in between. The appliance receives the label if it is significantly more efficient than the prescribed government standards when tested by the standard testing procedures. Energy Star products are among the most energy efficient products available in the market today.

Here’s a list of the best appliances for energy efficient homes in recent years:

1. Energy Efficiency in Clothes Washers

Of the heaps of information that a buyer is bound to fall upon while buying a clothes washer, what they must consider is two options: Standard size Energy Star Top Loading washers and the Energy Star Front Loading washers. Both are found with ease and have recorded water and energy savings up to 50 percent more than older non-rated models.

A standard model may consume over 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 12,000 gallons of water per year. A majority of the Energy Star certified range of clothes washers consume lesser than 200 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 7,000 gallons of water per annum.

As a minimum requirement, Energy Star models must record at least 30 percent more efficient than other models, but many models fare even better than the minimum. Where a standard model may consume over 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 12,000 gallons of water per year, a majority of the Energy Star certified range of clothes washers consume lesser than 200 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 7,000 gallons of water per annum.

Where front loading washing machines cost more than top loading washers, they are more energy and water efficient than the latter. They not just save water and energy but also take up much lesser space, which can be an advantage for houses where space efficiency is key.

Almost all the major producers make Energy Star Models.

The 2017 list of most efficient clothes washers published by Energy Star shows a clear leaning towards LG, Samsung, and Kenmore being on the top of their game. Each outdoing the others efficiency and specifications, models like LG’s WM9500H (Front Load) and WT7700H (Top Load) are priced $ 1,795 and $1,145 respectively. If the size of your weekly loads aren’t too large or you need a washer for your bachelor pad, then Kenmore’s 4196 is a great front load machine, with an annual energy usage of only 100 kWh, priced at under a $1000.

2. Energy Efficiency in Clothes Dryers

Most clothes dryers are extremely similar when it comes to energy rating, and when it comes to a washer and dryer combined then the dryer is known to use more energy as compared to the washer. However, while buying a new clothes dryer, it is sensible to consider criteria other than just color, make, and style.

Many dryers come with technologically advanced options like air-dry options, cool down or permanent press cycles, and consume lesser energy and take better care of clothes. Although not huge energy savers, these features are available even with less expensive models.

It is also important to know that while energy efficiency in dryers is difficult, a good way to keep your bills down and save energy is to only invest in and use a dryer when necessary. For a sunny house in California for example, a dryer is not required, and if you live in a state where winters and summers are cyclical then you can avoid using the dryer on hot days.

3. Energy Efficiency in Dishwashers

Dishwashers have revolutionized the way dishes have been cleaned, ever since they were invented. What is revolutionary is that they use very little water to effectively clean the dishes and as a result, turn out to be a great way to save water, even more so than handwashing.

Considering how little water they already use, modern dishwashers are becoming even more efficient at the job. Where a standard model in the 80’s would use 15 gallons of water per cycle, the standard model twenty years later used as little as 9 gallons. It gets even better, as today the Energy Star limit per model per cycle is 5 gallons, while the standard is around 6.5 gallons.

Energy Star rated models are as always, the best buy for an efficient home.

Blomberg tops the Energy Star list of efficient dishwashers, with DWT 58500, DWT 59500 and DWT 55100 all priced between $500 and $1000 and using not more than 225 kWh/year of energy.

The more inexpensive Energy Star models are more reasonable a purchase, as the expensive models cost way too much to justify the cost. More often than not, these models never provide fair returns on the investment made in them. To get the job done, a machine between $500 and $800 should be sufficient.

Blomberg tops the Energy Star list of efficient dishwashers, with DWT 58500, DWT 59500 and DWT 55100 all priced between $500 and $1000 and using not more than 225 kWh/year of energy.

4. Energy Efficiency in Refrigerators

Refrigerator manufacturers have raised the bar and upped their game in improving efficiency over the past several decades. While buying a new refrigerator, it is important to know that the useful life of a refrigerator is between 12 to 15 years. Which means, that a refrigerator that old will be about 60 percent less efficient than a newer refrigerator.

While buying a new refrigerator, it is important to know that the useful life of a refrigerator is between 12 to 15 years. Which means, that a refrigerator that old will be about 60 percent less efficient than a newer refrigerator.

Best Appliances to buy for your homes in 2017

As is the case with clothes washers, a small number of companies manufacture nearly all the refrigerators available in the market. However, buyers often choose larger, and less efficient models. Larger homes today have prompted buyers to opt for larger refrigerators. Remember, the larger the appliance, the more energy it will consume.

The cheapest choice for a new replacement is the standard, 18 cubic foot Energy Star top freezer refrigerator. A reliable option that is universally available, it is 30 to 40 percent more efficient than refrigerators found in most other categories. In this category, Avanti and Summit seem to be doing well, but companies such as Insignia, Frigidaire, and Daewoo are on the list as well.

The LG LSXC22336 is the only side-by-side refrigerator that makes the Energy Star list of 2017, and that too uses up to twice as much energy as a top freezer model.

A significant shift has been observed in customer preference and top freezer models are losing their popularity. Side by side, refrigerators look swankier and also offer more storage space. They naturally take up more floor space. It is also interesting to know that these side by side refrigerator models often come with energy intensive ice cube machines in their doors. Even though these come with Energy Star labels, they only need to beat the Federal Standards for side by side refrigerators – which isn’t an absolute standard as far as energy saving goes. The LG LSXC22336 is the only side-by-side refrigerator that makes the Energy Star list of 2017, and that too uses up to twice as much energy as a top freezer model.

The third model type is the bottom freezer type refrigerator. In terms of energy ratings, this fall somewhere in between the top freezer and side by side refrigerator types. If you choose to go the bottom freezer way, then your best options seem to be Bosch, with their classy matt metal exteriors and 300 to 350 kWh/year energy usage. Fisher and Paykel, Liebherr and Samsung do make the cut as well, but these manufacturers have inbuilt into the bottom freezer unit a double door on the top, making them less efficient in both price and energy usage than the Bosch models.

A full list of all Energy Star Appliances, complete with water and electricity consumption is available on the Energy Star website, and an energy-savings calculator is available from the US government as well.

Being energy efficient in a bid to lead a sustainable lifestyle is a great starting point to contributing towards a cleaner environment. Simple steps like drying clothes on a clothesline instead of using a dryer go even further in saving energy and money. While selecting appliances based on their energy ratings, it’s good to know that the most expensive need not always be the most energy efficient. Keeping an eye out for the lesser expensive models that have more efficient output does help.

Home Warranty for your Energy Efficient Appliances

While energy efficiency can cut costs when it comes to your monthly and yearly bills, one of the greatest costs when it comes to Home Appliances post their purchase is their upkeep and maintenance. Manufacturer’s Warranty is well and good for about a couple of years, but we can safely agree that the investment that is made when your home is furnished with appliances requires the life of the appliance to far surpass its warranty date.

Keeping up with basics like using the right voltage, not overloading or overusing it, keeping it clean and away from the elements are all taken for granted, and yet breakdowns and faults in the system are inevitable.

This process gets one step more complex when you purchase a home with appliances and systems already as a part of the deal. Clearly out of warranty, their energy consumption will be nowhere near what it was when the appliance was first purchased.

Home Maintenance Calculator – is an easy way to get an idea of how much your maintenance bill will be for the coming years and how it compares to the cost of investing in a Home Warranty policy.

This is when Home Warranty plays an integral part in the maintenance of your home and its appliances and systems. Covering your servicing, repairing and maintenance needs as well as offering replacement of systems and appliances that break down, Home Warranty companies provide you with umbrella schemes that cover your claims based on the policy you chose.

Just as the Energy Star website gives you a calculator for annual energy usage, we bring to you HomeWarrantyReviews.com’s Home Maintenance Calculator. It is an easy way to get an idea of how much your maintenance bill will be for the coming years and how it compares to the cost of investing in a Home Warranty policy.

A comprehensive website with an extensive consumer base, HomeWarrantyReviews.com provides you with information and reviews for you to make an informed decision when it comes to the purchase of warranty – from state-wise laws to yearly awards given to the best-rated Home Warranty Companies across various categories.

Do Old appliances use more electricity?

The refrigerator in your parents’ house may have a C or D rating and will exceed 600 kWh. Household appliances also age quickly and increase your electricity tariff. Anold television or a hairdryer that is a few years old, require more energy to function.

Which appliances use the most electricity in the house?

Here are the 8 Household Items that Uses The Most Electricity In Your Home:

Heating
Cooling
Water Heater
Washer and Dryer
Lights
Refrigerator
Electric Oven
Dishwasher

Does unplugging appliances save electricity?

Yes, Unplugging electrical appliances like TVs, chargers, wireless phones, cable and game boxes saves electricity. If the appliance is connected once fully charged, the charger continues to use power even if your cell phone/portable vacuum/toothbrush/wireless drill isn’t attached, let alone charging. Power supplies don’t just convert energy; they consume it.