The Low-Down on Energy-Saving Appliances

Everyone wants to save on energy bills: Why let your money—or that of your tenants—be drained away by appliances that aren't energy-efficient? Today's appliances aren't like those of 10, or even five, years ago. The energy-efficient appliances on the market today will make the most of your energy dollar while helping conserve resources.

A reliable guide for buying washers, refrigerators, and microwaves is checking for the ENERGY STAR sticker on that appliance. Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Lowe's is a proud partner in the ENERGY STAR program. ENERGY STAR refrigerators and energy-efficient washers can not only save you money over time, but help conserve valuable resources.

"We're seeing the ENERGY STAR label branch out into more categories of products," says Jennifer Thorne Amann, senior associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy in Washington, D.C., and co-author of the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings. "For example, until recently you couldn't look for smaller, apartment-sized ENERGY STAR refrigerators, or small room heat pumps. Now you can."

Refrigerators
The age and energy efficiency of a refrigerator is a huge factor in how much a tenant's energy bill will be, say industry experts. "Because a refrigerator cycles regularly, it's important to be sure you're using an energy-saving product," says Jill Notini, director of communications and marketing for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers in Washington, D.C. "The numbers speak for themselves in terms of annual operating costs." According to statistics from ENERGY STAR, replacing a 12-year-old refrigerator with a new, energy-saving model will save as much as $32.50 per year. In an apartment complex with 100 units, that's a savings of $3,250 per year.

Energy-Efficient Washers
Other dramatic savings can come from today's energy-efficient washers. Most full-sized ENERGY STAR washers use 18 to 25 gallons of water per load, compared to the 40 gallons used by a standard machine. Because they extract more water from the clothing during the spin cycle, washers marked with an ENERGY STAR label help reduce drying time and save wear and tear on clothing as well.

Thorne Amann says that in the near future, the ENERGY STAR label will likely include water usage in its energy ratings. "This is a great first step toward considering water usage as a part of energy savings," she says. "This is resource-efficiency, not just energy-efficiency." According to ENERGY STAR statistics, replacing 13 10-year-old clothes washers in a 100-unit residential complex will save more than 550,000 gallons of water each year.

Accelerated Replacement Programs
It's tempting to simply let an appliance "limp along" until it completely gives out. But in terms of energy savings, that's not a good idea. "We advocate an ‘accelerated replacement/early retirement' program that lets consumers have the newest and most energy-saving features," Notini says. "However, this isn't going to work if you're going to retire the refrigerator early from the kitchen and keep it somewhere else as a ‘beer fridge.'"