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 Energy Star
Guide to buy
appliances.
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Now
you can be a smart shopper and make the right choices to start saving
energy and money. The energy star label was created by the U.S.
Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These
agencies set the criteria to help shoppers shop for large and small home
appliances and identify the most energy-efficient products on the market
today. You can be assured that the appliance with the energy star label
is a high-performance product which will reduce the operating cost of
that appliance or product every month during its lifetime. Below are
appliances and how to read and understand the ratings for each product. |
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| Air
Conditioners for your room |
Look
for the EnergyGuide label with an EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) for room
air conditioners. The higher the EER, the more efficient the unit is.
Units with the Energy Star are among the most energy-efficient products.
Don't forget to choose a size that is appropriate for the room.
What size to buy:
Area in Square Feet Btu/hour
100 to 150 5,000
150 to 250 6,000
250 to 350 7,000
350 to 400 9,000
400 to 450 10,000
450 to 550 12,000
550 to 700 14,000
700 to 1,000 18,000
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| Central
Air Conditioners |
When
looking for a central air unit, look for the EnergyGuide label with a
SEER for central air conditioners. The Energy Star minimum efficiency
level is 12 SEER. Energy Star central air conditioners exceed federal
standards by at least 20%. We do recommend that you contact a
professional in your area for advice on sizing a central air system for
you.
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| Clothes |
Look
for the EnergyGuide label that will tell you how much electricity, in
kilowatt hours (kWh), the clothes washer will use in one year. The
smaller the number, the less energy it uses. Energy Star clothes washers
use less than 50% of the energy used by standard washers. Also look for
design features such as water level controls that cut water usage.
Features include, "suds saver", spin cycle adjustment, and
large capacity.
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| Dishwashers |
Look
for the EnergyGuide label that will tell you how much electricity, in
kilowatt hours, the dishwasher will use in one year. The smaller the
number, the less energy it uses. Look for features that will reduce
water usage such as booster heaters and smart controls. Be sure to check
how many gallons of water the dishwasher uses different cycles. This
will also cost the least to operate.
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| Programmable
Thermostats |
For
minimum efficiency, thermostats should have at least two programs, four
temperature settings each, a hold feature that allows users to
temporarily override settings, and the ability to maintain room
temperature with 2 degrees F of desired temperatures.
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| Refrigerator
and Freezers |
Look
for the EnergyGuide label that tells you how much electricity, in
kilowatt hours, the refrigerator or freezer will use in one year. The
smaller the number, the less energy it uses. Refrigerators with freezers
on top are more efficient than those freezers on the side. Also look for
heavy door hinges that create a good door seal.
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| Water
Heaters |
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Look
for the EnergyGuide label that tells you how much energy the water
heater uses in one year. Also look for the FHR (First Hour Rating) of
the water heater. This measures the maximum hot water the heater will
deliver in the first hour of use. If you typically need a lot of hot
water at once, the FHR will be important to you. Sizing is also
important when selecting a water heater
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| Windows |
Look
for NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) label that provides
U-values and SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) values. The lower the
U-value, the better the insulation. Also check the climate region map on
the Energy Star label to be sure that you have selected the window,
door, or skylight that is appropriate where you live.
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