Efficient Appliances Save Energy -- and Money

Room Air Conditioners

The most efficient room air conditioners have higher-efficiency compressors, fan motors and heat-transfer surfaces than previous models. A high-efficiency unit reduces energy consumption by 20 to 50 percent.

Replacing a 10-year-old model with an Energy Star model can cut energy bills by an average of $14 a year.

Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:

• Remember, the biggest unit isn't always the best choice, especially for small areas. A smaller unit running for a long period of time operates more efficiently and is more effective at decreasing humidity than a larger unit that goes on and off frequently.
• If you're comparing several similar units, choose the one with the highest Energy Efficiency Ratio. You can find the EER on the unit or its packaging. The minimum EER required by federal law is 9.7; the most efficient air conditioners of 2003 have an EER of 11.7.

Central Air Conditioners

If your central air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star model could reduce your energy consumption for cooling by 20 percent.

Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:

• Look for the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). Old units typically have a SEER of 6 or 7. In 2006, new standards go into effect, raising the minimum SEER for central air conditioners to 13. Energy Star models already meet the SEER 13 standard, and also perform more efficiently when it's hot.
• For maximum efficiency on the hottest days, the air conditioner should have a thermal expansion valve (TVX), and the high temperature rating (EER) on your unit should be at least 11.6.
• For optimal performance, buy a matched system of indoor unit, condenser and even thermostat.
• Get a reliable contractor to make sure your new unit is the right size for your home, and have it professionally installed. Even the most efficient system can't make up for the energy loss due to improper sizing and poor installation.
• Have your contractor make sure all your ducts are sealed and insulated. Duct tests require a fan and a pressure gauge -- they cannot be done by sight.

Water Heaters

Water heating is typically the third largest energy expense in your home, accounting for about 14 percent of your energy bill.

An old water heater can operate for years at very low efficiency before it finally fails. If your gas water heater is more than 10 years old, it probably operates at less than 50 percent efficiency.

Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:

• Calculate how much hot water your household uses at peak times. Figure that a clothes washer on hot wash/hot rinse can use about 32 gallons of hot water; a shower, 20 gallons. Washing dishes by hand can use 10 to 15 gallons, and automatic dishwashers, about 8 gallons.
• Match this figure with the "first hour rating" (FHR) on the EnergyGuide label. The FHR measures how many gallons of hot water your heater can deliver during a busy hour. Don't be misled by the size of the tank -- it doesn't necessarily correlate with FHR.
• Once you've found the right FHR range for your household, check the unit's Energy Factor (EF), which rates efficiency. A high-efficiency gas model would have an EF around 0.8.
• A natural gas unit will cost less to operate than electric.