CHARLOTTE — The rising cost of electricity, natural gas, and even water has many of us taking a closer look at our energy bills, and scrutinizing our appliances, wondering how much they really cost to run day in and day out. There’s some good news: Consumer Reports did the math for you, and its experts share which large appliances are worth your money and won’t hike up your utility bills.
If you’re shopping for a new appliance, checking the Energy Star and EnergyGuide labels is a great place to start, but there’s more to know before you buy, says Consumer Reports. CR tests the energy use of appliances under real-world conditions, which means that when testing a dishwasher, it’s loaded with dirty dishes to reflect what you would experience at home.
CR says it’s especially important when choosing a refrigerator, an appliance that runs 24/7, 365 days a year. CR found that there was quite a difference between different models and different types of refrigerators in terms of the amount of energy that they consume.
In general, you can save on money and operating costs by choosing a fridge with a top-freezer. If you want more space, consider a bottom-freezer.
Another energy guzzler is your clothes dryer. One way to cut down on drying costs is to choose an efficient washing machine that can help wring out more water from your laundry, making less work for your dryer, and save energy.
There’s one energy-efficient exception when it comes to clothes dryers; CR’s tests found that heat pump dryers do save considerable energy. However, they take longer to dry your clothes, which might be a deal breaker for some households.
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