let's go shopping for appliances

When you are looking for a new appliance, a lot of factors go into a purchase.  Budget and ease of use are probably at the top of the list for consideration, followed by how it fits into the decor (this comes in very closely after budget and ease of use for me and sometimes trumps them, but that is just me) and the energy use of the appliance (which also should be a factor in the budget decision).  We have all learned to recognize the Energy Star symbol and look for it so that we are making good energy usage decisions.

But sometimes one should look a little further.  The Department of Energy takes quite a long time to modify/revise these standards and the Energy Star logo is available to an appliance that uses  less energy than the federal minimum standard.  But what are the federal minimum standards, when are they revised, and how are they determined?  In the state of California, with Title 20 and other laws passed, our rules are more rigorous than the federal standards. So, it does pay (in energy cost savings) to do a little bit more research.

Organizations like Consumer Reports and The Green Guide by National Geographic give more in-depth information about appliance purchases and Consumer Reports tests to a more rigorous standard than the DOE. Other resources include the Consortium for Energy Efficiency  and The Green Home Guide. 

These resources can help make your decision process a bit smoother and take some of the mystery out of the selection process for you so that you can go shopping with ease and confidence.  Happy Hunting!