Appliances make up a significant part of a home's energy bill. That's why differences in the age, size, and efficiency of the appliances in the home have a big impact on energy bills.
Here are a few facts about appliances:
- Refrigerators consume the most energy - a home with an efficient refrigerator will use less energy.
- Lighting is the next largest user - homes using energy-efficient lighting such as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) instead of standard bulbs will have lower bills.
- Freezers also consume a lot of energy - not all homes have standalone freezers, but if you do your bill will be higher; freezers also use more energy when they are in a garage or an outside location.
- Color and high-definition or plasma televisions are also big users - the amount of energy used will depend on how many you have and how long they are on.
Newer appliances tend to be more efficient, especially if they are rated as Energy Star appliances. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models. The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model.
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