Finding the best deal is a priority for many appliance shoppers. This usually boils down to sales, discounts, rebates, and other various price reductions. We all want to save money on our purchase, so we keep an eye out for the best deals. However, hidden among all those big flashy signs, you'll sometimes find a small, blue sticker attached to the appliance. This is your signal that the appliance you're looking at is Energy Star approved.
So why should you care? You've probably heard of Energy Star, but other than “Energy Efficient," you might not know much else about this government program. Founded in 1992, Energy Star is dedicated to helping you save money by using products that consume less energy and are safer for the environment.
Let's take a look at what that means for you and your shopping experience.
What Gets Approved?
From the official Energy Star website,
“ENERGY STAR products are the same or better than standard products, only they use less energy. To earn the ENERGY STAR, they must meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the US Environmental Protection Agency or the US Department of Energy. Since they use less energy, these products save you money on your electricity bill and help protect the environment by causing fewer harmful emissions from power plants. And you get the features and quality you expect."
How Does a Product Qualify?
Many products have call-out features that specifically state they use less energy. Washers that use less water per load, computers that have power-saving features, refrigerators that consume less electricity to maintain temperature, and so on. Some appliances utilize multiple energy-saving techniques that will, in turn, use even less energy and save you more money.
How Does This Save Me Money?
Whether it's water, electricity, or gas, an Energy Star appliance will use substantially less energy than a normal unit. Over the lifetime of your appliance, you'll see these savings in your monthly utility bills. While a single Energy Star appliance will save you a certain amount of money, ensuring that each appliance in your home is Energy Star approved may significantly reduce your monthly energy use.
More Resources
To learn more about how Energy Star can save you money, visit their website at www.energystar.gov.
Use the links below for more specifics on appliances and electronics
Appliances
https://www.energystar.gov/products/appliances
Electronics