ENERGY STAR® Qualified Appliances
The ENERGY STAR logo can be found on refrigerators,
dishwashers, clothes washers, and room air conditioners.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators are among the largest energy
consumers in the home. Today, energy efficient models have replaced the energy
guzzler models of the 1970. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators must exceed minimum
federal standards for energy consumption by at least 20%. Models awarded the logo
include features like:
Better insulation which reduces the amount
of time the compressor needs to run
More efficient compressors Improved heat transfer surfaces More precise temperature and defrost controls
Models sporting the ENERGY STAR logo will save you
between $35 to $70 a year compared to a model designed 15 years ago. In addition to
looking for the ENERGY STAR logo, read the
ENERGYguide
label on new refrigerators. The ENERGYguide label will tell you how much electricity
a model uses in one year.
Dishwashers
A majority of the energy used in dishwashers
goes towards heating the water. ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers reduce the amount of
hot water needed during a wash cycle by using built in electric heaters to heat
water to temperatures hot enough to clean the dishes. This improved technology not only
reduces the amount of energy required for heating, but also minimizes the amount of
water needed. ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers must exceed minimum federal standards by
at least 13%.
 Clothes Washers
Similar to dishwashers, most of the energy in washing
clothes goes towards heating water - approximately 80 to 85%. ENERGY STAR qualified
clothes washers use
only 1/3 the energy and water than typical machines. The program supports both
horizontal-axis (front loading) as well as vertical-axis (top loading) washing
machines.
Horizontal-axis machines use a tumbling action rather
than the traditional agitator in top loading machines.
This tumbling action saves wear and tear on clothing.
Vertical-axis machines use high-pressure rinses to remove
soap residues from clothes rather than soaking them in a full
tub of rinse water.
Compared to the typical 40 gallons of water per load, ENERGY STAR qualified clothes
washers uses between 20-25 gallons per load. This translates into huge energy
and water savings.
Room Air Conditioners
Air conditioners with the ENERGY STAR logo feature high efficiency
compressors, fan motors, and heat transfers surfaces. These features reduce
the amount of energy required to compress the refrigerant through the coils.
ENERGY STAR qualified air conditioners must
exceed minimum federal standards for energy consumption by at least 15%.
ENERGY STAR Main Page
For more information about these and other ENERGY STAR programs contact
the US Environmental Protection Agency Hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES
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