With buzz words like
“energy efficiency” and brands like
Energy Star are concepts often heard by homeowners, yet many are left wondering: which of my home appliances are actually worth upgrading? Is upgrading my appliances a waste of time or something I need to look into? How much will it cost to upgrade my appliances?
The questions go on and on...and sometimes the answers are not easy to find. Lucky for you, here at
Team Ohlde, we know exactly which appliances are most important to upgrade in your home. Many appliances have made huge strides in the energy-saving world. Others, like small appliances, just aren’t worth upgrading all together. But did you know that
13% of your household’s energy costs come from appliances? Cutting your appliances energy usage will often save you money over time!
My advice? Upgrade the following appliances:
1. The Air Conditioner
We are all well aware that air conditioners tend to be very energy inefficient (especially in the summer!). Today’s modern retail air conditioners usually uphold a 10
EER rating (the higher the number, the more efficient it is), when 10 year old air conditioners rate at about a 7 EER. New Energy Star air conditioners usually run for about $220.00 when an Energy Star central air conditioner could run over $3,000 with installation.
Want a lower bill without investing in a new more energy efficient air conditioner? Simply replace the filters, clean the coils or manage the ducts—you’ll see your bill go down in no time!
2. The Furnace
Moving on to the opposite of the air conditioner—the furnace. Typical furnaces are measured in one of three ways: low efficiency, mid efficiency and high efficiency. What’s the difference? Higher efficiency models have ways to store and exchange heat while less efficient models do not. Replacing your furnace with an Energy Star furnace will cost about $1,400.
3. The Dishwasher
A typical dishwasher usually uses about 10 gallons of water per cycle! Thanks to Energy Star, however, modern, efficient dishwashers only use 5.8 gallons of water per cycle. Plus, Energy Star dishwashers tend to be quieter and clean a little better. Invest $550 in a new efficient dishwasher!
4. The Refrigerator
The
refrigerator is the appliance that has made leaps and bounds when it comes to energy efficiency. The standard refrigerator now uses 40-60% less energy than it previously did in the 1990’s! The average cost of a new refrigerator is about $1,100, but you can save up to $200 a year by upgrading!
Bouns! Be sure to buy a fridge with a freezer on top. It may seem old school, but it’s more efficient than the side-by-side models!
5. The Washing Machine
The final appliance on our list is the washing machine. This machine has made vast improvements in the last few years—especially in its features. Newer washing machine models now boast front-load clothes washers which use around 50% less water and 37% less energy than top-load models. The average price of a new Energy Star washing machine is $750 and you can save over $135 a year with the upgrade!
When it comes to appliances, many of us do not upgrade until the machine breaks or is just too old to get the job done. But now’s the time to consider upgrading your appliances not only because it may be breaking down, but because it could save you money in the long run (not to mention, it saves the earth!).
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