Major appliances account for over one-third of your monthly power bill. Upgrading to new ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances helps you save power, save money and help protect the environment.
Save the PST! Buy an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher, freezer, fridge or washer and save the PST at the point of sale. (Provided by the Government of Saskatchewan.)
ENERGY STAR qualified appliances use significantly less energy and water than standard or older models; some ENERGY STAR qualified appliances use less than HALF the energy of older models.
On average, the energy savings of a new ENERGY STAR qualified appliance has the same environmental benefit as planting over 100 fully-grown trees.
You could save nearly $30* a year in energy costs when you replace a fridge from 1997 or earlier with a new ENERGY STAR qualified fridge.
On average, fridges last 17 years, so the savings really stack up.
ENERGY STAR qualified fridges must exceed minimum Government of Canada energy efficiency standards by at least 20 per cent.
ENERGY STAR qualified fridges typically have more energy efficient compressors and insulation than standard models. They may also have an Energy Saver switch that allows you to adjust how much energy the fridge uses.
TIP: Organize your fridge to allow air to circulate around your food
Fridges with a freezer on the bottom tend to be the most energy efficient, while side-by-side models are least efficient. Choose a fridge that will be the right size for your needs. Generally the larger the fridge, the more energy it will use.
- For one or two people, consider a fridge that is 12 cubic feet
- For three to four people, consider a fridge that's 14-17 cubic feet
- For each additional person, consider adding two cubic feet
- Generally, the more options your fridge has (such as an ice maker or a butter conditioner), the more energy it will use
You could save over $30* a year in energy costs when you replace a freezer from 1990 or older with a new ENERGY STAR qualified freezer. On average, freezers last 21 years.
- ENERGY STAR qualified standard-size freezers must exceed minimum Government of Canada energy efficiency standards by at least 10 per cent
- There are two types of freezers: chest freezers and upright freezers. Chest freezers are more energy efficient because less cold air escapes when you open them
- Choose a freezer that will be the right size for your needs. Generally the larger the freezer, the more energy it will use. On average, most households require about 4.5 cubic feet of freezer space per person
- Choose a freezer that properly fits in your space. Your freezer needs space around its exterior so it can function properly. Usually two to three inches of clearance is required, but check the owner's manual to make sure
You could save up to $35* a year in energy costs when you replace a dishwasher from 1997 or older with a new ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher.
On average, dishwashers last 13 years, so the savings really stack up.
- ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers must exceed minimum Government of Canada energy efficiency standards by at least 47 per cent
- Choose a dishwasher with energy saving options (including economy cycles, sensors to adjust wash cycles, no-heat drying and an internal water heater) to save even more. Many ENERGY STAR labelled dishwashers use "smart sensors" that adjust the wash cycle and the amount of water to match how much cleaning the dishes will need. They may also have an internal heater to boost the temperature of incoming water
- Choose the model that uses the least amount of water. Current ENERGY STAR dishwashers use a maximum of 22 litres (5.8 U.S gallons) of water for each load, while some non-ENERGY STAR dishwashers can use up to 35 litres (7.7 gallons) of water per load. Ask your retailer or check the owner's manual to see how much water the appliance uses
You could save over $75* a year in energy costs when you replace a clothes washer from 1997 or older with a new ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer.
On average, clothes washers last 14 years.
ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers have advanced design features that deliver cleaning performance while using 35 to 50 per cent less water and 20 to 50 per cent less energy per load than other washers. ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers manufactured in or after 2008 are at least 37 per cent more energy efficient than other new models.
- Look for a clothes washer that does not have an agitator in the middle of the drum-most front loading clothes washers have this design
- Check for features that can decrease your energy use
- Choose a machine with a cold rinse and cold wash option
- Choose a clothes washer with a water-level adjustment control, so it doesn't use more water than necessary
- Currently there are no ENERGY STAR qualified clothes dryers for sale in Canada. However, new clothes dryers on the market use 15 per cent less energy than clothes dryers manufactured on or before 1990, because they have more efficient motors and controls.
The EnerGuide label provides buyers with the information they need to compare the energy consumption of different products. ENERGY STAR goes a step further by identifying the most energy efficient models on the market compared to other models in their size and class.
ENERGY STAR is the symbol for energy efficiency for many products in Canada and the world. Major household appliances that qualify for the ENERGY STAR symbol save consumers money because they use less energy than conventional products while offering the same or better performance.
When shopping for appliances use the EnerGuide label and look for the ENERGY STAR symbol to find the most energy efficient products.
*Energy savings are calculated using the average energy consumption of appliances manufactured in 1990 or 1997. (Source: 2009 EnerGuide Appliance Directory.) The calculations factor in an electricity cost of 10.22 cents per kilowatt hour. The dishwasher and clothes washer calculations also include natural gas savings from reduced water heating costs.
