Although cooling systems make up the bulk of the average power bill, the combined effect of the energy use by household appliances comes in pretty close. Making sure that your appliances are running as efficiently as possible can put a dent in your monthly and annual energy costs.

Some appliance in the home are already equipped with energy saving options. You may already own EnergyStar® rated appliances. If not, it may be time to look at replacing old, inefficient units with others that won’t cost you so much in wasted energy!

Looking at the cost of a new appliance, it is important to project beyond the initial purchase price. Consider the cost of maintenance and repair on “cheaper” units and think as well of the operating costs. An inefficient appliance may well produce heat in its operation, causing your AC to have to work harder. Do you really need that second, tired, old refrigerator? Is it in the garage? The hottest, dirtiest room in the house?

The Federal Trade Commission has developed the EnergyGuide label to help you understand how different appliances’ operating costs. Match that with the EnergyStar® logo and you can select the best replacement for worn-out equipment.

Additional Resources
EnergyStar®  - http://www.energystar.gov/

Progress Energy -  http://progress-energy.com/