6 Affordable, Energy-Efficient Appliances That Will Save You Money This Summer
Written by
Brooke Barley
Edited by
Renee Ross
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Some energy bills naturally go down in the summer, but how can you get them even lower? Especially if you live in a hot climate and are dreading those increased AC bills? GOBankingRates spoke with consumer experts on the best energy-efficient appliances on the market and which ones will save you a lot of cash.
Here’s what you should buy if you’re looking to upgrade appliances this summer, while keeping costs and energy low.
Whirlpool Stainless Steel Dishwasher
Price: $458 at Home Depot
This dishwasher is Energy Star-certified, which means it’s considered the same or better than standard products, but uses less energy. Besides saving you money on your utility bill, Scott Lieberman, founder of Touchdown Money, recommended this appliance for other reasons as well. “This dishwasher is quiet — a real plus.” The specifications say this dishwasher is only 55 dBA per IEC standards, making it a very quiet machine.
Lieberman added there are ways to make this dishwasher even more affordable. “If you use a natural gas water heater, it’ll cost just $22 to operate it per year. That can cut your dishwashing bill in half, or even further.” Dishwashers on Home Depot’s website can cost as much as $1,900, so this is definitely a more affordable option, plus it’s good for the environment.
Electrolux Front-Load Stackable Electric Dryer
Price: $998 at Home Depot
Not only is this a sleek, black dryer, but it’s Energy Star-certified, and can dry your clothes in as fast as 15 minutes. Plus, Lieberman added that it’s a great size. “This one also has plenty of space so you can maximize load size.” The specifications say it can fit a king-size comforter, which is something a lot of in-home dryers can’t do. Dryers this size can cost you well over $1,000, so this is a great buy.
LG Top Freezer Refrigerator
Price: $849 at LG.com
You can’t survive a hot summer without a fridge to store some cool drinks. Lieberman recommended this LG model, which the website is currently offering for $150 off the normal price. Besides being Energy Star-certified, it has a reversible door for your convenience, LED refrigerator lights and an ice maker.
“This refrigerator offers plenty of space for fruits and vegetables, plus quality air flow to keep food fresher longer,” Lieberman said. “It’s one of the cheaper refrigerators to operate, which makes a big difference.”
Customers also love it. One 5-star review reads: “I bought this refrigerator a week and a half ago, and [it’s] the best one I’ve ever had. Could not be happier with the look, value and efficiency.”
TP-Link Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch
Price: $17.99 on Amazon
“For light, many households use more energy than is necessary,” Matt Kerr, the co-founder of Appliance Geeked, said. “Long lengths of time spent leaving the lights on are a regular occurrence, in addition to the extra energy consumption of incandescent light bulbs. Motion-detecting smart light switches and programmable timers reduce energy consumption by automatically turning off lights around your house.”
Plus, you can hook these switches up to your smartphone so you can control the lights from anywhere in your home. “Utilize countdown schedules or timers to program your smart switch to turn on and off automatically while you’re at home or away,” Kerr said.
Amazon Smart Thermostat
Price: $63.99
“Smart thermostats adjust the heating and cooling in your house based on your preferences, which results in a far more energy-efficient system,” Kerr advised. “Your yearly savings on heating and cooling expenses may be over 10% with an Energy Star smart thermostat installed.”
Kerr added that these are usually very compatible with your heating and cooling systems, so you don’t have to worry about installation. Another benefit is that they work well with your other Amazon products. “It works nicely with Alexa voice control and Ring home security, and all of this can be controlled via the Amazon smart-home app,” Kerr said.
GHome Smart Power Strip
Price: $19.99 on Amazon
Smart power strips can help reduce energy by turning off electricity to devices when they’re in standby mode. Kerr suggested the GHome model for its low cost, compatibility with other devices and array of capabilities. “This gadget is compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. It has three independently regulated outlets and three USB ports for charging different devices.” This way, you’ll never have to think about disconnecting your devices. This strip will do the heavy lifting for you.
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