Appliances account for about 20% of your household"s energy consumption, with refrigerators and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list.

When you"re shopping for appliances, you can think of two price tags. The first one covers the purchase price-think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. You"ll be paying on that second price tag every month with your utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on the appliance. Refrigerators last an average of 20 years; room air conditioners and dishwashers, about 10 years each; washers, about 14 years.

When you do have to shop for a new appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR® appliances have been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DOE as being the most energy-efficient products in their classes. They usually exceed minimum federal standards by a substantial amount. The appliance shopping guide lists some of the major appliances that carry the ENERGY STAR® label and provides helpful information on what to look for when shopping for an appliance.

Dishwasher Tips

§                       Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded.

§                       Let your dishes air dry; if you don"t have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.

Laundry Tips

§                       Wash clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents when possible.

§                       Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.

§                       Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.

Refrigerator/Freezer Energy Tips

§                       Don"t keep refrigerators or freezers too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment and 5°F for the freezer section. Separate freezer"s should be kept at 0°F.

Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.

(Source: US Department of Energy)