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Shopping Tips > Appliance Store
Household Appliances
 washing machines
clothes dryers
dishwashers
refrigerators
Washing machines
When buying a washing machine, look for the following features that can save you money and prevent waste:
Choose the best size for your needs. Smaller capacity washing machines occupy less space, use less water, and can save you money. When washing, ensure that the machine is fully loaded to maximize the machine’s efficiency and conserve both water and electricity.
Washing machines labeled with the ENERGY STAR® logo use an average of 18 to 25 gallons of water per load, as compared to the 27 to 32 gallons used by older models.
A pre-soaking option helps remove stains, allowing clothing to be cleaned using a shorter wash cycle.
An adjustable water level lets you use only the water you need for the amount of clothes you are washing.
Accessory baskets are helpful for washing small loads.
High-speed spin cycles extract more water and help to reduce drying time.
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Clothes dryers
When shopping for a new dryer, look for the following features:
Moisture sensors for sensing dryness that can shut off heat when clothes are dry.
Cool-down period in the last few minutes of the cycle — during the final drying period, cool air is used to complete the drying cycle, saving the energy required to heat the air.
The most efficient dryer available. Clothes dryers are not required to display Energy Guide labels, but the minimum rating for a standard capacity electric dryer is 3.01. For gas dryers, the minimum energy factor is 2.67. These ratings are determined by calculating pounds of clothing per kilowatt-hour of electricity.
Currently, gas dryers are less expensive to operate than electric dryers. According to the US Department of Energy, consumers in the future may be shopping for microwave technology in clothes dryers. Microwave drying technology has the potential to reduce the energy necessary to dry your clothing.
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Dishwashers
Features to shop for include:
Reduced water use for light loads.
Energy efficient motor. Dishwashers with the ENERGY STAR label use 7 to 10 gallons of water per load, as opposed to older models that use 8 to 14 gallons of water per load. The efficiency gain is in the improved spray arms and filtering systems.
Options to control water temperature. One of the key energy savings in new dishwashers is an internal water heat booster, which heats the water to 140°F. If you have your own water heater, this allows you to turn down its normal setting to 120°F to reduce your hot water heating bill and prevent accidental scalding.
Improved washing action.
No-heat drying option.
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Refrigerators
Refrigerators are probably the single biggest power consumer in most households. To save energy, look for the following features when buying a new refrigerator:
Look for the ENERGY STAR label — this is the easiest way to determine if the brand and model you are purchasing will reduce energy use in your home. ENERGY STAR refrigerators must exceed the July 1, 2001 minimum federal standards for energy consumption by at least 10 percent.
Top freezer models are more efficient than side-by-side models.
Manual defrost models use half the energy of automatic defrost models.
Precise temperature and defrost mechanisms allow you to adjust settings to minimize frost build-up.
Avoid convenience features that require more energy. Although convenient, automatic ice-makers and through-the-door dispensers increase energy use.
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ALSO SEE
Resources for additional information on energy efficiency and selecting appliances.
New homes for old stuff for places to donate, give away, or sell your unwanted appliances, or to purchase used goods.
What to recycle for information on recycling and CFC removal requirements.
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