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UNITS / TERMS:
The lifecycle cost of an appliance represents its "true" cost because it includes the purchase price of the appliance plus the cost to operate and maintain the appliance over its lifetime. The reduced operating cost of an energy-efficient appliance is typically sufficient to quickly earn back or "pay back" the potentially higher purchase price of the energy-efficient model.
BACKGROUND FACTS:
According to the 1997 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, lighting and appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and stoves) used 27% of all energy used in residences and accounted for more than 45% of energy costs. These numbers do not include the cost of water and the cost to heat water, resulting in savings potential that is even higher than these numbers reflect. |
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Federal law requires a bright yellow EnergyGuide label to be placed on many types of home appliances. The label compares the most and least energy used by comparable models of the same appliance type, and helps estimate the cost to operate the appliance.
Energy Star labeled appliances typically exceed federal minimum efficiency standards by 15-20%. Energy Star labels can be found on clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers, and other home appliances.
Proper placement in a home is integral to an appliance's energy-efficient operation. For example, a refrigerator or freezer placed near a stove, heater or even direct sunlight will expend considerably more energy to keep food cool than a properly placed refrigerator.
Top-freezer models can use as much as 10-25% less energy than side-by-side refrigerator/freezers.
Gas ovens and ranges use less energy than comparable electric appliances. Self-cleaning ovens are more insulated than other models and will save even more on utility bills.
Horizontal axis (typically front-loading) clothes washing machines use approximately one-third of the water that conventional machines use to wash the same size load of clothing. Horizontal axis models also spin clothes faster which results in less drying time, and therefore also reduce energy costs associated with clothes dryers.
Operating costs shown on the EnergyGuide label are calculated using the national average energy cost. A real estate professional can easily help clients to calculate a more accurate operating cost for the local area by multiplying the estimated energy use of an appliance (listed on the EnergyGuide label) by the rates that the local utility charges. (Find this information on the utility bill.)
U.S. Department of Energy's Buildings for the 21st Century: Energy-Efficient Appliances
U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savers: How to Read the EnergyGuide Label
