Appliance tips

Appliance efficiency adds up to savings

Taking steps to reduce energy use for household appliances can pay off with up to hundreds of dollars of savings annually.

ENERGY STAR® appliances

  • Look for the ENERGY STAR® label when buying new appliances.
  • Use the most efficient settings.
  • Keep the appliances well maintained.

Savings: 10%-50%


Clothes washers and dryers

Water heating is about 90% of a washer’s energy use. To save money:

  • Wash laundry in cold water whenever possible to save about 90% on water heating.
  • Wash full loads. If washing a partial load, adjust water level.
  • Clean dryer lint trap before every load and avoid over-drying clothes.
  • Use dryer balls in place of dryer sheets to help dry clothes faster. Better yet, line-dry laundry.

Savings: $30-$40 annually


Dishwashers

  • Avoid pre-rinsing dishes, which can use up to 20 gallons of water. Scrape food into garbage.
  • Run dishwasher only when full.
  • Select no-heat drying to save up to 20% on energy, which also is better for top-rack plastic dishes.
  • Use an ENERGY STAR® dishwasher instead of hand washing to save about 5,000 gallons of water and $30 in utility costs each year.

Savings: $40 annually


Refrigerators

  • Keep refrigerator in a cool place with air circulation behind it and away from direct sunlight and heat-generating appliances that can make it work harder.
  • Keep it set no colder than 35 to 38 F, and make sure the door seals fit tightly.
  • Keep the fridge as full as possible to help it hold a more consistent temperature. Allow hot foods to cool to room temperature before storing.
  • Don’t leave door open; quickly take what is needed.
  • Keep refrigerator properly maintained to save energy and increase its life span.
  • Unplug any older, extra refrigerators in a garage or basement. Older models cost an average of $150 per year to run.

Savings: $150+ annually


Cooking appliances

  • Cook as many dishes as possible in your microwave, slow cooker, air fryer or toaster oven. They cook food quicker and are smaller, using as much as 75% less energy than a conventional oven.
  • When using your oven, preheat only when required, make sure seals are tight and don’t open the door while cooking. Keep burners clean on natural gas stoves.
  • Check cooking progress using the window. Opening the oven door for even a few seconds reduces temperature by as much as 25 degrees. No window? Avoid checking food until it is close to expected finish time.
  • Turn off oven several minutes before food is fully cooked. As long as it remains closed, enough heat will be stored inside to finish cooking. If using glass or ceramic pans, try turning oven temperature down 25 degrees; food may cook just as quickly.
  • When cooking on stovetop, match pan size to heating element. More heat gets to the pan, resulting in less heat loss. Using the right size pot on a burner can save about $36 a year if you have an electric range, or $18 a year with a natural gas stove. Consider installing an induction stovetop that can reduce electric use by 5%-10%.

Savings: $18-$36 annually