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<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\nToday\u2019s home appliances are light years better than those of just a decade ago. Their superb energy-efficiency<\/a> helps you create an eco-friendly home — and they also save you money.<\/p>\n Many appliance manufacturers have partnered with the federal government in the Energy Star<\/a> program, which makes it easy to identify energy-efficient home appliances. When shopping for a new appliance, you\u2019ll see the purchase price and a yellow EnergyGuide label, which lists the energy rating for that particular item and compares its operating cost with similar models. This number could mean the appliance is anywhere from 10 to 50 percent more energy efficient than traditional versions.<\/p>\n Nearly 20 percent of a household\u2019s energy use comes from appliances, which means buying eco-friendly machines could save you upwards of $80 a year, based on the samples below. But you\u2019ll pay more upfront for most eco-friendly appliances<\/a> — so is it worth it to go green? Here\u2019s a comparison.<\/p>\n Green versions are about 15 percent more energy efficient than their conventional counterparts because they have more precise temperature and defrost controls, better insulation and high-efficiency compressors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n To make sure you\u2019re saving money, buy the right size fridge or freezer for your family. Using a model that\u2019s too large won\u2019t save you as much if you can\u2019t keep it filled. And to save even more, use freezer trays instead of the icemaker. A model with an automatic ice dispenser can use 20 percent more electricity to cycle on and off.<\/p>\n Lastly, don’t look for the Energy Star label alone; efficiency standards vary by refrigerator type, say the experts at Consumer Reports<\/a><\/em>. A top-freezer that isn\u2019t Energy Star-qualified might actually be more efficient than a side-by-side unit with the label. For an apples-to-apples comparison, use the annual operating costs and the kilowatt-hours per year the refrigerator uses, which are listed on the EnergyGuide.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Traditional:<\/strong> Frigidaire 20.5 cubic feet with top freezer<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> $819.99<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Electricity Use:<\/strong> 509 kWh<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Energy Star:<\/strong> Frigidaire 20.6 cubic feet with top freezer<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> $1,149.99<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Electricity Use:<\/strong> 356 kWh<\/p>\n Estimated savings per year:<\/strong> $38<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Dishwashers with an Energy Star label are, on average, about 10 percent more energy efficient and 20 percent more water efficient than standard models, according to the EPA.<\/p>\n These dishwashers have \u201csmart\u201d sensors that tailor the machine\u2019s cycle length and water temperature. They also have energy-efficient motors and efficient washing action to get dishes clean. This is good news, since the average household runs its dishwasher four times a week, for a total of more than 200 times per year. An Energy Star -qualified dishwasher will save an average 1,900 gallons of water over its lifetime.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Traditional:<\/strong> Westinghouse 24-inch<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> $229.99<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Electricity Use:<\/strong> 330 kWh<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Operating Cost:<\/strong> $35 with electric water heater \/ $24 with natural gas water heater<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Energy Star:<\/strong> Whirlpool 24 inch<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> $329.99<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Electricity Use:<\/strong> 282 kWh<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Operating Cost:<\/strong> $30 with electric water heater \/ $24 with natural gas water heater<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Full-sized washers that have Energy Star labels use about 35 percent less water and about 20 percent less energy than conventional models, says the EPA. A green washing machine also saves 700 kWh of electricity, more than 2 million BTUs of natural gas, 27,000 gallons of water and approximately $315 over its lifetime, according to the EPA.<\/p>\n Green washing machines need less detergent to get clothes clean and extract more water from laundry during the spin cycle, so you can also cut time and costs for drying, too.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Traditional:<\/strong> GE 3.7 cubic feet top load<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> $449.99<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Electricity Use:<\/strong> 477 kWh<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Operating Cost:<\/strong> $51 with electric water heater \/ $29 with natural gas water heater<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Energy Star:<\/strong> Kenmore 3.6 cubic feet<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> $563.99<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Electricity Use:<\/strong> 128 kWh<\/p>\n Estimated Yearly Operating Cost:<\/strong> $14 with electric water heater \/ $9 with natural gas water heater<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is no EnergyGuide labeling for clothes dryers because the basic construction hasn\u2019t changed much. Most clothes dryers use about the same amount of energy.<\/p>\n Where you need to make decisions is how the\u00a0machine is powered and how it shuts off.\u00a0Dryers dry via either gas or electricity. Gas dryers cost about $50 to\u00a0$150 more than comparable electric models, say the experts at Consumer Reports<\/em>,\u00a0but you can save in the long run with lower fuel costs. They also found that\u00a0dryers with a moisture sensor can save you money over dryers with a traditional\u00a0thermostat. Because a moisture sensor is faster at recognizing when laundry is\u00a0dry and shuts itself off, your clothes won\u2019t be damaged by unnecessary heat and\u00a0you\u2019ll be using less energy in the process.<\/p>\n Katie<\/strong> Kretschmer<\/strong>\u00a0of\u00a0Home Rehab Online<\/a>\u00a0is a writer and editor whose\u00a0work touches all areas of style — from fashion, art and design to crafts,\u00a0decorating and DIY.FRIDGES AND FREEZERS<\/h3>\n
DISHWASHERS<\/h3>\n
CLOTHES WASHERS<\/h3>\n
CLOTHES DRYERS<\/h3>\n
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