Appliances account for about 33 percent of the energy use in the average home.  Learning to use appliances more efficiently and knowing what to look for when purchasing new appliances can help you save money.  

When shopping, consider that every appliance has two price tags – the purchase price and the operating cost.  You’ll be paying on that second price tag every month with your utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on the appliance.

Here are some simple energy efficiency tips to help you start saving today!

Refrigerator/Freezer

• Cut down the frequency of door openings.
• Keep coils and condenser area free of dust.
• Keep your refrigerator compartment between 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer compartment between 0-5 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Defrost manual defrost freezers when frost build-up is more than ¼” thick.
• If possible, locate refrigerators and freezers away from direct sunlight and other warm air sources such as ranges and heating equipment. 
• Don't put refrigerators and freezers in a garage.
• Consider purchasing a refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR label -- you'll use at least 20 percent less energy.

Washer/Dryer

• About 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes in a conventional top-load washer is for heating the water. Wash with less water and use cooler water.
• Wash and dry full loads.  If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.
• Dry towels and heavier-weight items in separate loads.
• Don’t overload the dryer or over-dry your clothes.
• Clean the dryer lint trap in the dryer after every load.
• Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. 
• Consider air-drying clothes on clothes lines or drying racks.
• Consider purchasing an ENERGY STAR washer. It can clean clothes using 50 percent less energy than standard washers and spin the clothes better, resulting in less drying time.
• When shopping for a new dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry.

Dishwasher

• Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer recommendation on water temperature. It may have an internal heating element that allows you to set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature.
• Run your dishwasher with a full load, but not overloaded. 
• Let your dishes air dry – if you don’t have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and open the door slightly.
• In the summer, use the dishwasher in the cooler parts of the day.
• Avoid using the “rinse hold” on your machine for just a few soiled dishes.  It uses 3 – 7 gallon of hot water.
• Consider purchasing an ENERGY STAR dishwasher.  It will use less water and 41 percent less energy.

Electronics

• Turn off personal computers, monitors, copiers, printers and fax machines when not in use.
• Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off.  These “phantom” loads occur in VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers and kitchen appliances.  Phantom loads can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut power to the appliance.
• There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce energy use by monitors; they do not.  The best energy-saving strategy is automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off.
• Use rechargeable batteries on all products you can for products like cordless phones, television remote controls, alarm clocks and PDAs.
• Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktop computers.
• Consider purchasing an ENERGY STAR-labeled computer.  It will use 70 percent less electricity than computers without this designation.