Why are energy efficient appliances important?

About half of the energy consumed in our homes is used for appliances, lighting, and electronics; the other half is for heating and cooling. Upgrading old appliances to energy efficient models and being conscientious about how we use them can make a significant difference for both the environment and our pocketbooks.

According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, “residential electricity consumption — much of it from major home appliances — accounts for about one fifth of U.S. energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.” Energy efficient appliances can decrease energy usage by half.

Check the Washington Post for an informative read on appliance use.

Conserve energy with Energy Star appliances

In 2020, the use of Energy Star appliances saved 520 billion kilowatt-hours, $42 billion in energy costs, and reduced emissions by 400 million metric tons. These energy saving products can save a household around $450 in energy costs per year.

• Also pay attention to information on the yellow Energy Guide sticker when you’re shopping for appliances.
• Read what Consumer Reports has to say about energy efficient appliances.
• If you are looking at used models, check at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore or local thrift stores.

There are a variety of tax credits and rebates available for purchasing energy efficient appliances. Some are offered by state governments, and some are offered by utility companies. Use this Energy Star rebate finder to help you find applicable programs. There are also a couple new federal home energy rebate programs coming in 2024, so stay tuned for those.

How can I make my appliances more energy-efficient?

• Use the Dept. of Energy’s tips to determine the amount of energy the appliances in your home are using.
• Proper maintenance is key to extending the efficiency and life of your appliances. Unfortunately, a big part of that includes cleaning—nobody’s favorite task—which is important to keep elements working properly. Here are some tips on how to best clean your appliances. Learn what to look for in eco-friendly cleaners and get some product recommendations here.
• Small countertop appliances, like slow cookers, air fryers, toaster ovens, and even microwaves, use less energy than a stove or oven. Use as much as appropriate.
• Check with your power company for an available power saving programs. Some companies offer programs where you decrease your electric use during the day when demand is higher, and then pay cheaper rates during off hours, when you would run appliances like the dishwasher and washer/dryer.
• Find more energy saving tips specific to each type of appliance below.

Dishwasher

Energy Star dishwashers average 12% less energy and 30% less water than a standard model. Click here for the most energy efficient dishwashers of 2023.

Tips to Go Green:

• Most people prerinse their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, myself included. But multiple sources say this is an unnecessary step and use of water. Modern dishwashers are efficient at cleaning even heavily soiled dishes, so just scrape off loose food and let the dishwasher do the rest. Make sure there is not any paper or other packaging debris present.
• Wash only full loads (but don’t overload or block moving parts) to optimize water use and run less often.
• Be sure to load the dishwasher properly, as outlined in your user manual, in order to optimize cleaning. In general, face the dirtiest surfaces towards the center and place pots and cups face down.
• Use a descaler if you have hard water. You can use a product like Affresh, or a better zero waste option is to simply fill a liquid measuring cup with about a cup of vinegar, put it on a rack, and run an empty cycle.
• Use your dishwasher’s energy saving features.
• Try turning off the heated dry or opening the door at the end of the final rinse to air dry.
• Switch to an eco-friendly dishwasher detergent.

Freezer

An Energy Star freezer saves at least 10% more energy than other models. Click here for the most energy efficient freezers of 2023.

Tips to Go Green:

• Keep the temperature at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Keep your freezer indoors, such as in the basement. Extreme temperatures are hard on the compressor and can reduce the life of your freezer.
• Allow a few inches of air circulation behind the freezer.
• Make sure the seals around the door are airtight. Check them the same way you would with a fridge, by closing a $1 bill or small piece of paper in the door, and then slowly pulling it out. There should be resistance, and if there isn’t then the seal probably needs to be cleaned or replaced.
• Minimize the amount of time the freezer door is open.
• Keep your freezer around 3/4 full–your frozen foods help keep it cold and leave less room for warm air each time the door is opened. An empty freezer has to spend more energy cooling all the empty space.
• Regularly defrost manual-defrost freezers: frost buildup decreases energy efficiency. Don’t allow frost to build up more than 1/4″.

Refrigerator

Energy Star refrigerators use about 9% less energy than their counterparts. By replacing an old refrigerator with an energy efficient model, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 8,200 pounds over five years, the equivalent of driving 9,300 miles in your car.

Tips to Go Green:

• Keep your refrigerator set at 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place your fridge in a cool place, if possible. If it sits in direct sunlight all day or next to a heat source like an over or dishwasher, it has to use more energy to keep temperatures low. (Someone should have told this to the geniuses who remodeled our kitchen before we bought the house.)
• Leave a few inches between the wall and the refrigerator to allow air circulation. If you have an older model, keep the condenser coils clean.
• Make sure the seals around the door are airtight. An easy way to check this is to close a $1 bill or small piece of paper in the door, and slowly pull it out. There should be resistance, and if there isn’t then the seal probably needs to be cleaned or replaced.
• Minimize the length and number of times the door is open.
• If it has the option, place your fridge in vacation mode while you’re gone.

Recycling filters

Check with your manufacturer whether they have a recycling program for their filters. I have been unable to find anywhere that recycles them.

Brita water filters, bottles and caps, and packaging can be recycled for free with Terracycle. There are also a free program for Hydros and Zero Water brand filters. Or you can buy a water filter pouch or box for any size/brand from Terracycle.

Microwave

There are currently no Energy Star certifications for microwaves. Some models have a power or energy save mode that you can select to put the clock and controls to sleep when not being used. For more about microwaves energy efficiency, check out this Guardian article.

For tips on extending the life of your microwave, read this Consumer Reports article.

Oven

There are currently no Energy Star certifications for ovens.

Oven tips to Go Green:

• Keep your oven clean, including the drip pans. A dirty oven can take longer to heat.
  • If using the self-clean feature, save some energy by doing it just after baking so the oven is already hot.
  • Check out The Spruce’s article on how to clean an oven. You can simply use baking soda and vinegar, or try a more eco-friendly oven cleaner such as Method or Simple Green.
• Occasionally check the door seals and replace if necessary. This helps the oven work more efficiently and keeps your kitchen cooler.
• Don’t preheat or run the oven longer than necessary.
• Don’t open the oven to peek. This allows heat to escape, requiring more energy to reheat, and can also make your baking uneven.
• In colder months, leave the oven cracked when done baking for some extra heat in your kitchen.
• See more energy saving tips from King Arthur Baking Co.

Stove/Range/Cooktop

Go Green: Electric induction

There are not currently Energy Star certifications for stoves. Electric stoves and cooktops are the cleanest, most energy efficient choice. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, an induction stove is 5-10% more efficient than conventional electric stoves and about three times more efficient than gas stoves. An induction cooktop runs at 90% efficiency, while a gas stove can run as low as 32%. In addition, electricity is much cleaner than natural gas, which has a significant effect on indoor air quality.

A Stanford study tested 53 gas stoves and discovered that all of them leaked methane when turned off, when three-quarters of their total methane emissions occurred. The scientists reported that this leakage has a climate impact comparable to the carbon dioxide emissions from about 500,000 gasoline-powered cars.

There are numerous other pollutants released from gas stoves.

• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This gas has been linked to childhood asthma: a 2013 review of past studies determined that children living in a home with a gas stove had a 42% increased risk of asthma compared to those who didn’t, and a 2022 analysis calculated that 12.7% of childhood asthma in the U.S. is attributable to gas stoves. The EPA isn’t authorized to regulate indoor air quality. As a result, homes with gas stoves can often have nitrogen dioxide levels up to four times higher than EPA outdoor guidelines.
• Benzene is a carcinogen found in secondhand smoke, and Stanford researchers found that indoor concentrations of benzene formed by the flames of gas stoves can be worse than the secondhand smoke. They found that benzene can migrate into other rooms far from the kitchen, and that concentrations measured in bedrooms can exceed national and international health benchmarks. They also found residential range hoods are not always effective at reducing concentrations of benzene and other pollutants, even when the hoods vent outdoors.
• Formaldehyde is also found in tobacco smoke. At low levels, breathing in formaldehyde can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. At higher levels, formaldehyde exposure can cause skin rashes, respiratory issues, but cannot be reliably measured in blood, urine, or body tissues following exposure.
• Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas formed from burning natural gas. In homes it is primarily found in gas-burning appliances–especially furnaces, automobile exhaust, and cigarette smoke. Exposure to this gas is the leading cause of death due to poisoning in the United States.poisoning is the leading cause of death due to poisoning in the United States. It is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas.

Owners of gas stoves should consider replacing it with an electric model, if a position to do so. There are government rebates available to help with the cost.

If replacing a stove isn’t in your budget, there are things you can to to help mitigate the risk of these toxic gases.

• Use your range hood/exhaust fan every time you cook, which ideally should vent outside.
• Open windows and add a fan for extra air flow.
• Use a portable induction cooktop.
• Use other electrical appliances to prepare your food as applicable.

Cooking tips to Go Green:

• You should only see blue flames on a gas burner; if you see yellow have the flame adjusted to burn more efficiently.
• Boil water quicker with lids on. Keep pots and pans covered with lids as appropriate for faster cooking.
• When appropriate, heat foods in the microwave instead. Other small kitchen appliances also use less energy than a stove.
• Use the correct size of pot or pan for each heating element.
• Keep drip pans and other surfaces clean so they can reflect heat efficiently.

Your laundry habits are just as important as what kinds of clothing and other textiles you purchase.

Choose Energy Star washing machines and dryers.

“A household that uses washers and dryers certified by Energy Star could reduce their carbon footprint by more than 400 pounds of CO2 annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which is equal to planting a quarter acre of trees.”

Washington Post

Washing Machine

An Energy Star washing machine uses 20% less energy and about 30% less water than regular washers. Click here for the most energy efficient washing machines of 2023.

Laundry tips to Go Green:

• Wash full loads as much as you can. It uses the same amount of energy either way, so fill up.
• Use the extended spin cycle to remove as much water as possible and decrease drying times.
• Read Consumer Reports tips on extending the life of your washing machine.
• Find eco-friendly detergent options.

An extra consideration

Laundering synthetic fabrics has a much more significant environmental impact that you probably realized. With every load, an average of 700,000 tiny plastic microfibers are released into the water. It is estimated that up to 35% of microplastics in the ocean and 71% in rivers come from synthetic clothing. Learn about sustainable clothing here.

• To help combat this, purchase a washing bag from GuppyFriend to hold clothing made from synthetic fabrics. The Cora Ball is another choice, which you simply place in each load of laundry. The last, and possibly best, option is PlanetCare‘s microfiber filter that is attached to your washing machine. Third-party testing shows this filter catches 90% of microfibers. When the filter is full, you send it back to the company and they refurbish it to be used again.

Dryer

Energy Star dryers use about 20% less energy than other models. In fact, if all the clothes dryers in the country were Energy Star certified, citizens would save $1.5 billion dollars per year in utility costs. It would also decrease greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 2 million vehicles. Click here for the most energy efficient clothes dryers of 2023.

Drying tips to Go Green:

• Air dry when you can, especially delicate clothing or things you wear/wash frequently, like workout gear. This prolongs the life of your clothes saves energy by not using your dryer. If there’s room, install a closet rod in your laundry room to hang damp clothes. I use mine a ton, especially for delicates and workout clothes. I also bought this drying rack, which I love. For more ideas, check out Consumer Reports line drying tips.
• Switch loads while the dryer is warm, which uses the remaining heat inside of the dryer for the next cycle.
• Empty and clean the lint filter and dryer duct regularly to keep your dryer running more efficiently and safely.
• Dry on low heat; even though it takes longer, it uses less energy.
• Use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. They are much more eco-friendly, don’t leave a film on your clothes like dryer sheets can, and decrease drying times. I have some from both Grove and Blueland and I will never go back to dryer sheets.
• Use a cool-down cycle if your dryer has one. This allows clothes to finish drying with the heat remaining in the dryer.
• Use the moisture sensor option instead of timed drying, if your dryer has one. This will lead your dryer to turn off when its contents are dry, saving energy and decreasing the wear of over drying your clothes.

Find more ways to save water in your home here.

Water Heater

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that domestic water heating accounts for between 15-25 % of the energy consumed in homes. That’s more than your refrigerator, clothes washer, dishwasher, and dryer combined. An Energy Star heat pump water heater is four times more efficient and uses 70% less energy than a standard model. It also can save you around $300 per year on your utility costs. Check out the Dept. of Energy’s article on how to choose a water heater.

Water heating tips to Go Green:

• Turn down the temperature to 120 degrees. Not only do your appliances not need it higher than this, a high temperature setting is a safety issue for scalding burns, especially with children in the house. Water heaters often come with temps preset at 130-140 degrees, and turning them down by 10 degrees can save you 3-5% on heating costs.
• Use less hot water: as previously mentioned, take shorter, cooler showers and run loads of laundry on cold water.
• Use the right size of tank for your household.
• Insulate your water heater with an insulation blanket. Also insulate your hot water pipes.
• Utilize a volt timer to turn off electricity to the heater overnight.
• Turn off when leaving town.
• Drain your water heater’s tank once or twice a year to clear out sediment and keep your heater running efficiently.

Water Softener

The Department of Energy recommends that every home have a water softener, especially those in hard water areas. Hard water contains minerals that create buildup inside the internal heating and plumbing systems, affecting their efficiency and decreasing their lifespan. These also limit the effectiveness of soaps and cleaning products. 

There is not an Energy Star certification for water softeners. There are some that do not use electricity, but these are not recommended for areas with very hard water. Read the U.S. Dept of Energy article on types of water softeners and how to maintain them.

A note on salt types: Overall, solar salt such as Diamond Crystal seems to be the most eco-friendly option. This process uses the sun and wind rather than electricity to evaporate water.

Just like any other large appliance, keep your small appliances clean to help them to keep functioning properly. Buy energy efficient models as available.

How to recycle small appliances

• IKEA will recycle small electrical appliances.
• Black + Decker small appliances can be recycled for free with Terracycle.
• Coffee brewers and SodaStream CO2 cylinders can be recycled at Staples.
• Metal appliances can be recycled for scrap.

Fans

Shop energy efficient fans at Best Buy, or find additional models on this list from Treehugger.

Recycle broken fans at Best Buy.

Vacuums

Check out Treehugger’s list of energy-efficient models.

Recycle broken vacuums at Best Buy.

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Where to donate appliances

Sell or donate appliances in working condition.

Great options include:

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• St. Vincent de Paul
• Salvation Army
• Goodwill
• Local thrift stores
• Local Buy Nothing groups

Where to recycle old appliances

• If purchasing a new appliance, the retailer will likely take your old one for a fee.
• Check whether your local landfill will recycle old appliances. The landfill in my area will remove freon if necessary and then take the appliance for recycling.
• Utilize your city’s bulk waste collection service if they recycle and are available in your area.
• Use a waste hauler like Junk King. Their website states that they reuse, repurpose, or recycle 60% of what they haul away.
• Check for a local appliance bounty program, where you are paid a “bounty” to recycle. The EPA suggests contacting your electricity provider to find out if bounty programs are offered in your area. Some programs also offer rebates and discounts towards the purchase of new Energy Star qualified models.

Read the EPA’s answers to appliance disposal FAQ.