Appliances - The EnerGuide Label

Check your electricity bill to find out what you're paying per kWh of electricity. Multiply the price (in $/kWh) with the big, bold kWh per year number on the EnerGuide label. The result will tell you how much you should budget on an annual basis to operate the appliance once it is installed in your home. Do the same calculations for other display models that interest you and compare costs. The savings generated by high-efficiency appliances can really add up, because they compound every year for the life of the appliance.

While the scale makes it easy to compare operating costs of appliances within the same type and size category, you can also use the large kWh number to compare operating costs between type and size categories. You'll want to make sure you choose the most energy-efficient model available, and you'll also want to choose a size and type of appliance that corresponds to your needs.

Let's look at refrigerator-freezers to illustrate how you can use the EnerGuide label and the EnerGuide Appliance Directory to save money by making the right appliance choices:

If you are buying a new fridge for a family of four, a unit with a capacity of 395 L to 480 L (14 to 17 cu. ft.) will be adequate for your needs; but the latest super-deluxe, side-by-side ""imperial duplex"" 1100 L (30 cu. ft.) with through-the-door ice and beverage service catches your eye. You check the EnerGuide label and calculate that a 30 cu. ft. ""dream fridge"" costs only $50 more per year to operate than a 15 cu. ft. model (c. $90 vs. $40). Not a lot in itself, but that is only the beginning . . .

First, consider the difference in the purchase price:

High-efficiency 15 cu. ft. refrigerator-freezer: $1000 (max.)
Medium efficiency 30 cu. ft. side-by-side, "imperial duplex": $2200 (at least)

If you choose the 15 cu. ft. model, you'll save $1200 up front and $50 per year on your electricity bill - $850 over the estimated life of the appliance.

Your new fridge should last about 17 years. If you invest the initial $1200 savings and the $50 per year, every year, imagine how much you'll save! The choice is yours.

Use EnerGuide: Buy Smart, Get Value for Your Money