Shopping for a major appliance? Want to know one of the best ways to save money?

We asked the U.S. Department of Energy to tell us about how to identify an appliance that saves energy and money when we go shopping.

We know: Energy Saving Major Appliances

What’s the quickest way for me to determine if a new appliance is designed to save energy?

Look for something called the Energy Star label. It looks like this.

The Energy Star label is designed to help consumers identify appliances that have been rated by the federal government as the most energy-efficient products on the market.

What does the Energy Star label mean?

Appliances with an ENERGY STAR label exceed existing federal efficiency standards, typically by 13% to 20%, and as much as 110% for some appliances.

Customers can be assured that the appliance being purchased is a high-performance product which will reduce the operating cost of that appliance or product every month in operation.

What kinds of appliances have been rated?

Look for energy-efficiency ratings and Energy Star labels on the following types of appliances:

Gas and oil-fired furnaces and boilers: ENERGY STAR® furnaces have a rating of 90 AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) or better.
Washing machines: ENERGY STAR® clothes washers use less than 50% of the energy used by standard washers.
Refrigerators and freezers: ENERGY STAR® labeled units exceed federal standards by at least 20%.
Dishwashers: ENERGY STAR® dishwashers exceed federal standards by at least 13%.
Windows: Look at the Climate Region Map on the ENERGY STAR® label to be sure that the window, door, or skylight you have selected is appropriate for where you live.
Water heaters : Look for the Energy Guide label that tells how much energy the water heater uses in one year.
Central air conditioners: ENERGY STAR® central air conditioners exceed federal standards by at least 20%.
Room air conditioners: ENERGY STAR® units are among the most energy-efficient products.
Air source heat pumps: The ENERGY STAR® minimum efficiency level is 12 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) or higher.