Choosing features for new home appliances can be overwhelming, especially when shopping for high-end European brands. In this blog, we will explain why ENERGY STAR® appliances are the one feature you should never overlook.
What is ENERGY STAR®?
ENERGY STAR® is the government-approved rating system for energy savings and efficiency. Products with the recognizable blue ENERGY STAR® label indicate the product meets or exceeds the minimum energy efficiency requirements. It is now the international standard for energy efficiency.
What is energy efficiency?
Energy efficiency is the practice of reducing energy consumption. Efficient energy savings help ensure enough energy is used to complete tasks or power products used in our daily lives without interfering with performance. By managing energy use, we eliminate energy waste and help manage energy costs both for our uses and the community.
Why is energy efficiency important?
Energy use impacts many aspects of our lives, including our household costs, availability of energy for power, and the quality of the air on our planet. Prioritizing energy efficiency and eco-friendly appliances decreases both water use and greenhouse gas/pollution emissions while reducing demand on already-strained utility systems. It also has an economic impact, helping to stabilize the rising costs of electricity usage.
What impact do ENERGY STAR® appliances have on the environment?
Statistics show that ENERGY STAR® has saved 5 trillion kilowatt-hours and prevented 4 billion metric tons of GHCs from entering the atmosphere since 1992. The program also reduced other pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and fine particulate matter.
Do ENERGY STAR® appliances really make a difference in my life?
Yes! Although you might think that appliance guide choices don’t make much of a difference, there are several statistics that say otherwise. For example, when investing in an eco-friendly fridge, you can save 9% on energy costs compared to a non-ENERGY STAR® model and 35% compared to your old fridge.
More importantly, when you want the best energy-efficient appliances, ENERGY STAR® tends to come out ahead, offering the latest technology, including the following:
- Sensors to indicate possible leaks for dishwashers.
- Dryer sensors that measure temperatures to automatically shut off when your clothes are dry.
- Alerts when you leave the fridge open for too long.
- Smartphone compatibility to monitor energy use.
- LED lighting for appliances, from dishwashers to fridges to make it easier to find what you need.
- Induction cooktops that make it easier to clean and speed up cooking steps, such as boiling water.
- Dishwasher soil sensors to increase or reduce energy and water use based on how dirty the dishes are.
How does ENERGY STAR® guide appliance purchases?
The ENERGY STAR® label helps you identify energy-efficient appliances both when shopping online and in appliance showrooms.
It is one of the most trusted and recognized logos in the appliance industry, as it indicates that the product has earned the label through independent testing. ENERGY STAR® certification confirms high-efficiency performance and energy savings that either meet or exceed government-guided standards.
Why should I look for ENERGY STAR® appliances?
Shopping for appliances is overwhelming in a market saturated with a wide variety of brands, product types, and features. When you use the ENERGY STAR® label as a guide, it makes life easier in several ways, including the following:
- The blue label is easy to spot, saving you time by telling you what options are ENERGY STAR® appliances and top performers.
- ENERGY STAR® appliances save anywhere from 15% to 30% in energy compared to non-certified appliances in the same class.
- An investment in ENERGY STAR® appliances today saves money over the time you own and use the appliance.
- Purchasing ENERGY STAR® appliances makes you feel good, as you are doing your part to use less energy and lower greenhouse gases.
What types of home appliances are ENERGY STAR® certified?
All categories of household appliances are available as ENERGY STAR® appliances, including:
- Clothes washers
- Clothes dryers
- Dishwashers
- Refrigerators
- Freezers
- Electric cooking products
Can I just use the blue label to find ENERGY STAR® appliances?
Yes and no. When shopping for energy-saving appliances, the blue label is easy to identify when shopping. However, each appliance type and model within that category consumes energy differently.
Therefore, it is important to compare energy usage for each model when prioritizing energy efficiency and eco-friendliness as a determining factor in your purchase decisions.
Which ENERGY STAR® appliances are the most efficient?
While ENERGY STAR® labels indicate energy efficiency, each appliance has an individual rating based on the level of energy consumed on average. When you are comparing appliance performance, look for the ENERGY STAR® certification and then use the EnerGuide label to compare energy consumption. The EnerGuide label includes four ratings:
- Annual energy consumption (kWh per year).
- How the product compares to the most efficient and least efficient models in its class.
- What type and capacity are in the class.
- The model number.
Tips for Choosing ENERGY STAR® Appliances
Using the ENERGY STAR® and EnerGuide labels provides a simple guide when shopping for energy-efficient appliances. Here are some tips to help inform your comparisons and decisions:
- Type and capacity: Make sure you always compare type and capacity. If you compare different types and sizes of appliances, the readings will be misleading.
- Understand the numbers: Appliance annual energy consumption tells you how much energy the product is expected to use based on the average household. The lower the kWh (kilowatt-hour), the more efficient the appliance.
- Understand the scale: When comparing the scale, you want to choose the model with the pointer furthest to the left.
- Feature consumption: Keep in mind that certain features can use up more energy than basic models. For example, ice machines and water dispensers in fridges can increase energy consumption by 14% to 20%.
The EnerGuide label shows you if there are notable increases to help you understand how various features impact energy efficiency.
How to Find Luxury Eco-Friendly Appliances
Although the blue ENERGY STAR® label is an effective first step in finding energy-efficient appliances, when shopping for luxury household appliances, advanced features can complicate the decision-making process.
At Euro-Line Appliances, we specialize in stylish, state-of-the-art luxury brands across all household appliances and have the expertise to help you find sustainable, safe products with ENERGY STAR® ratings.
With over 25 years of experience bringing elite European appliances to homes in Canada, Euro-Line Appliances continues to lead with innovative, award-winning products that combine sophisticated design with exceptional performance. Our brands are carefully selected for their commitment to engineering excellence and long-term sustainability.
We also offer leading warranty protection plans and a best-in-class parts and service guarantee. For more information, call us at 1-800-421-6332 or contact us online.