Great Green Appliances

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Running one larger refrigerator generally is more efficient than operating two smaller ones. When you buy a new energy-efficient refrigerator, resist the temptation to move the old one into the basement or out into the garage to keep beer or soda.

"If you keep the old refrigerator, you don't get any of the savings of having bought a new one," Notini says. "I encourage people to recycle the old one." In some parts of the country, utilities or other organizations actually may come and haul your old refrigerator away for free, and perhaps even pay you for it. Check with your local utility, or call (800) YES-ICAN, to see if there is an appliance recycling program in your area.

Clothes Washers

An average clothes washer manufactured in 1999 is 51 percent more energy efficient than a similar unit made in 1981. Most of these gains are due to design improvements that use less hot water.

"Some of the new washers use about 50 percent less water than older models, and in parts of the country where water rates have gone up that can be an important factor," Thorne says. "You save money on water and water heating bills, but there also are the environmental benefits of using less water."

In fact, if you regularly do six loads of laundry a week, you can save about 6,000 gallons of water a year by switching to a horizontal-axis washing machine. Most Americans use traditional vertical-axis washing machines (typically known as toploaders), which waste lots of water and leave clothes relatively wet, requiring more drying time.

The new water-efficient, high-speed horizontal-axis washers address these issues, and can save you up to $100 a year on utility bills. At present, about 10 percent of new washers sold in the United States are horizontal-axis machines, but the number is growing. Between 2004 and 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy will gradually phase in stricter standards for energy and hot-water use as well as water extraction.

Horizontal-axis washers already meet these tougher standards, according to Consumer Reports. Unlike vertical-axis agitators and tubs, horizontal-axis washers use about a third less water, detergent and heating energy. Better yet, most horizontal-axis washers tend to have larger load capacities than their vertical-axis relatives, and generally operate more quietly.

Although many horizontal-axis washers are more expensive than conventional washers, an increasing number of utility companies now offer rebates if you buy a machine that qualifies. Contact your local utility to find out if it has an incentive program.

Even if you can't afford a new washer, you still can save energy. "With a clothes washer, virtually all of the energy savings can be realized by simply washing in cold water," says Yen Chin, planning and development specialist for Seattle City Light.

CLOTHES DRYERS

Clothes dryers are the second largest energy consumer after refrigerators. The best dryers now come with moisture sensors in the drum that shut the machine off when the clothes are dry. Compared to machines with traditional timed drying cycles, this saves energy and reduces wear and tear on your clothes from over-drying.

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