Dishwashers

• An efficient dishwasher consumes no more than one kWh/washing cycle, compared with 1.4 kWh for an average model.
• Consider a 'hot fill' model which connects directly to your efficient gas fired hot water heater. That way, gas is used to heat the water instead of electricity, thereby reducing electricity consumption by 50 percent, or even up to 90 percent for the top models. This is because gas is almost twice as efficient as electric.

Refrigerator

The refrigerator uses more energy than any other appliance in your home, but there are a few things you can do to keep energy consumption to a minimum:

• The fridge should be kept at 38-42°F (3-5°C), the freezer at 0-5°F (-17 to -15°C).
• Try to open the fridge door less frequently and for a shorter duration to conserve energy.
• Don’t place your fridge in a warm spot — near a heater or in direct sunlight.
• For efficient operation clean the condenser coils on the back or bottom of your fridge at least once a year.
• Keep the door gasket clean to make sure the seal isn’t broken by dried food.
• Buy a high efficiency refrigerator that consumes around 100 kWh/y. This is 10 times less than the average in the US, and four times less than the EU average.

Freezers

For most home consumers it is better to buy a two door refrigerator/freezer combination with separate compartments, than a separate refrigerator and freezer. Refrigerator/freezer combinations where the freezer is at the top or bottom of the unit are generally better than ones with side by side doors. Of course, you should always compare energy consumption ratings, pay attention to energy efficiency labels (see above).

• Chest type models are more efficient than uprights.
• Unlike refrigerators, with freezers size does matter. Larger freezers do need more electricity. So don't buy a freezer that is larger than you need, especially if you live close to the store.
• The most efficient models on the market will only use 180 kWh for a 300 liter chest, and 240 kWh/y for a large 10 cu. ft. freezer chest. The best upright models range from 170 kWh for a 6.7 cu. ft. litre model to 220 kWh for a 10.9 cu. ft model.

Washing Machines

The most efficient washing machines save some 396 gallons of water per year!

• Only do full loads of laundry, use as little water as possible.
• Up to 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes goes to heating the water. A warm wash and cold rinse will work just as well as a hot water wash and a warm rinse on nearly all clothes.
• Only wash clothes that need it. Outer layers of clothing like shirts, sweaters and pants can be worn more than once without laundering.
• Buy a high-efficiency model with a power consumption of less than 0.9 kWh/washing cycle.
• Look for the energy star. The energy star means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy.
• Consider a 'hot fill' model which connects directly to your efficient gas-fired water heater. Using gas to heat the water almost halves electricity consumption. Installing a hot fill appliance needs to be done correctly, so good advice is required.

Clothes Dryers

Traditional clothes dryers are very energy intensive. So-called 'condensation' models – without an exhaust tube – use even more energy.

• Hang clothing outside to dry or inside in a dry, warm room and save energy.
• If you must use a machine to dry your clothes, clean your dryer’s lint trap after every load to keep the air circulating efficiently. Lint build-up is also a fire hazard.
• Consider drying the natural way (i.e. on a clothes line in/outdoors) if practical, this will save you 3-4 kWh/washing cycle.
• If line drying is not an option, first make sure that your washing machine can spin at 1600 or even 1800 rpm. This will almost halve the energy needed for drying. Drying through spinning is 20 times less energy intensive than with heat.
• There are two clothes-drying technologies that use far less energy: the gas-fired clothes dryer and the dryer with an electric heat pump. The gas-fired dryer is the best alternative, especially for more intensive use: it uses 60 percent less energy (including the gas) and dries 40 percent faster.
• If gas is not available, consider a dryer with a heat pump. A heat pump dryer will use half the electricity of a traditional dryer. However, heat pumps can be rather expensive.