Which Kitchen Appliance Should You Upgrade?

Manufacturers have found innovative ways to reduce appliance energy use without sacrificing performance. The federal government began tightening appliance standards in the 1980s and has continued as technological innovations became more cost-effective.

The appliance replacement most likely to produce the greatest energy savings is your refrigerator.

But if only one upgrade is in the budget, which offers the most bang for your buck?

It may seem like the oldest appliance should go first. That may make sense if you want the looks and features of a newer oven or dishwasher. But with most appliances, the energy savings you get from a new one will take several years to pay for itself with the energy saved.

The appliance replacement most likely to produce the greatest energy savings is your refrigerator. An older fridge can cost about $20 to run every month. Replacing an old fridge with a new Energy Star®-rated model can cut that down to less than $5 a month. The Energy Star label certifies that the appliance saves energy. New refrigerators will include an additional label, the Energy Guide label, which shows how much energy it uses annually and compares that to the most and least efficient models available. It’s also possible to measure how much energy your fridge is using with a kWh meter. Energy auditors use these meters to measure energy use for common household appliances. Sometimes the energy use of an older fridge can be reduced by replacing the seal around the door.

The Energy Guide label provides information for comparing the annual energy use of appliances.

When you’re looking to replace an old fridge, style counts. A top-freezer setup is the most efficient, while a lower‑freezer unit offers medium savings, and a side‑by‑side style is the least energy efficient.

In order to save money on your energy bill, resist the urge to keep the old fridge in the basement or garage — that won’t help you reduce your energy use. An old fridge in an uninsulated garage on a hot summer day can use a lot of energy. Maybe you just need more freezer space. If so, we’d suggest buying the most efficient freezer available. You can find recommendations on energystar.gov.

If your current fridge is in good condition, another appliance you may want to consider upgrading is the dishwasher. With most of us spending more time at home these days, chances are you’re using your dishwasher more than you used to. And a new Energy Star-certified dishwasher will save, on average, 3,870 gallons of water over its lifetime (and can use less water than hand-washing).

As with any major purchase, be sure to read customer reviews for any brands and models you’re considering, and look for additional opportunities to save money, like an upcoming Presidents' Day appliance sale.