Building Green Homes
Appliance Electricity Use
Appliances
Appliances are a major source of household water consumption in the U.S. If American households were to upgrade to water efficient appliances, the U.S. would save 3 trillion (that is 12 zeros!) gallons of water and 18 billion dollars every year.[1]
There are two prices to consider when looking for a new appliance. The first is the purchase cost and the second is the operating cost, how much money will this appliance be costing per utility bill each month.
The Energy Star label is something to look out for when shopping for appliances. The Energy Star label ensures that the product exceeds federal minimum standards for quality and efficiency, and have been independently tested and certified.
Most appliances are required by federal law to carry a yellow and black EnergyGuide label. This label tells the consumer energy consumption and operating costs for each specific appliance. The label does not tell the consumer which appliance is the most or least efficient, it simply provides the information for the consumer to compare on their own.
The EnergyGuide label provides the following information:
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Make, model, size
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Estimated operating cost per year (based on the national average of electricity cost)
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Estimated consumption of electricity per year
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Key features and similar models that make up cost comparison ranges[2]
[1] US DOE, "Tips: Shopping for Appliances", 16 July 2014
