Louisville Home Owners Save Some Green By Being Green

Is the fridge on the fritz? Or the dishwasher on the skids? Maybe your washing machine is doing anything but? Then it could be time to make a new purchase for your home. The good and bad news is that there are seemingly endless options for how to spend your money in the world of home appliances. It’s easy to think that making environmentally friendly purchases when it comes to the refrigerator or washing machine will be cost-prohibitive, but Louisville home owners have found ways to actually save some green by being green. A few simple tips can help you do the same.

1) Size matters. The simple truth is that large appliances use more energy than smaller ones. So consider how much use your new appliance will get before just purchasing the biggest model. If you eat out a lot, then maybe you don’t need the industrial size dishwasher. If you are on a first name basis with your dry cleaner, then maybe a smaller washing machine and dryer will suffice.

2) Read the label. This is good advice when buying any product, but when purchasing an appliance, you should always look for the Energy Star label. Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency to help consumers make energy-efficient choices, appliances with this label exceed the minimum government standards for energy efficiency.

3) Check out the Energy Guide. Have you noticed the numbers assigned to the labels of appliances today? The Federal Trade Commission requires that most types of new appliances let consumers know approximately how much energy the appliance will consume in a year. This Energy Guide allows shoppers to compare the energy efficiency of one model against another. You want to find the number – and lower is better in terms of energy use - and read the whole energy guide before making a selection.

4) Don’t let first impressions fool you. Granted, appliances that are more energy efficient will come with a higher price tag. But don’t let the initial sticker shock be the only factor in your decision making. When you consider how much you can save in utility costs over the life of an energy efficient appliance, you may find that the higher purchase price is an investment that will save you money over the long term.

As Kermit said, it isn’t easy being green, but it can be both environmentally and financially wise. You can join the many Louisville home owners who are saving some green by being green simply by following these few tips when shopping for a new appliance.