With family budgets strained by high energy costs the next time you go shopping for a new appliance you might be drawn to the one with the lowest price tag. Smart shoppers, however, will go a step further and check out the operating costs over the life of the appliance. According to the US Department of Energy, different models of refrigerators with the same storage space can vary noticeably in the amount of electricity they use. As a result, you may actually save money by buying the more expensive, yet more energy-efficient model.
Even if two models look the same from the outside, the features on the inside can make a difference in your monthly utility bills. Most of the differences are in the motors, compressors, pumps, valves, gaskets and seals, or in electronic sensors.
You can learn about the energy efficiency of an appliance through the yellow-and-black EnergyGuide label on the appliance. Some appliances also may feature the EnergyStar logo, which means that the appliance uses considerably less energy then a similar model.
You can also make your present appliance more energy efficient by doing the following:
By purchasing energy efficient appliances and using them properly, you can save each month on your energy bill.