12 Energy-Saving Devices That Will Help You Lower Your Monthly Bills

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Air conditioning, refrigeration, automatic dishwashing and laundry: All of these modern conveniences are essential parts of our lives, but they can also contribute to high energy bills. If you want to save more money or are still using an old and outdated appliance, upgrading it can significantly reduce your carbon footprint as well as your energy costs. From smart thermostats to portable air conditioners, these energy-efficient devices can help you live comfortably, use less energy and save more money.

In this article: Ecobee ecobee3 Lite Smart Thermostat, LG High Efficiency Front-Load Washing Machine with 6Motion Technology and Amazon Smart Plug

Energy-saving modernizations

Upgrading to a newer appliance not only means improved features and performance, but it often comes with a huge boost in energy consumption. For example, it’s estimated that refrigerators that are at least 15 years old use twice as much energy as newer ones, while newer dishwashers use about half as much water and energy as older ones.

Many new appliances are also Energy Star certified, meaning they meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s energy efficiency and usage criteria. These appliances, available in 40 product categories, have been tested and verified by a third party to ensure they meet these criteria. Since the Energy Star program was introduced in 1992, it has been estimated to have reduced energy costs by $500 billion and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 4 billion metric tons.

When purchasing new household appliances, consider other energy-saving features as well.

• Air fryers and air frying toasters: These compact appliances cook food faster and more efficiently than ovens, which translates into lower operating costs.
• The location of the freezer in the refrigerator matters: Refrigerators with both a top and bottom freezer are the most energy-efficient models.
• Induction Wins: Induction cookers are more energy efficient than electric and gas models. However, both electric coil and smooth cookers are more efficient than gas.
• Install a ceiling fan: Ceiling fans use very little energy, so you can save on your electricity bills in both summer and winter.

Tips for saving energy at home

You don’t need brand new, top-of-the-line appliances to save money on your energy bill. Using your appliances wisely, monitoring your heating and cooling practices, and other steps can help you save money without having to replace every appliance in your home.

Try these energy-saving tricks at home:

• Insulate and seal gaps: Check your home for gaps and cracks around doors and windows, as well as in your attic and basement, if you have them.
• Use convection setting: If possible, use the oven in convection mode, which uses up to 20% less energy than standard baking mode.
• Wash in cold water: Washing clothes in cold water saves energy and your clothes stay just as clean, especially if you use a detergent designed for cold water.
• Freeze your own ice: Automatic ice makers and through-door ice and water dispensers use up to 20% more energy than refrigerators without these features.
• Check tax breaks: You may be eligible for a tax break for upgrading your home to energy-efficient equipment, such as a new water heater, home insulation, windows and more.

The best energy-saving devices

DeLonghi Pinguino portable air conditioning

Powerful and portable, this air conditioner comes with a remote control, wheels, and a window mount so you can use it anywhere. It can function as a dehumidifier and fan as well as an air conditioner, with enough power to cool rooms up to 500 square feet. This quiet model boasts 17% more energy efficiency than the previous generation.

Google Nest Learning Thermostat

This thermostat learns your routines and adapts to prioritize energy use when clean or cheaper energy is available. View energy usage history and make changes with your phone or voice control. It comes in five different finishes to match your décor.

Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max Smart Air Purifier

Purify the air in an average-sized room in about 12 minutes with this quiet, dual-filter air purifier. It removes more than 99.97% of airborne particles and features app and voice control. Filter tracking helps you determine the best time to replace your filter.

Echo Dot 5th Generation Smart Speaker

With enhanced sound and helpful connectivity options, Echo Dot lets you control your smart devices and listen to music throughout the room. Create light and temperature routines to manage your home more efficiently. Available in three colors.

Ecobee ecobee3 Lite Smart Thermostat

This smart thermostat can help your household save up to 23% on its energy bill. By pairing this smart thermostat with your Ecobee security system, it can even pause your heating or cooling when it detects that you have open doors or windows.

Wyze RGB and Tunable White Smart Bulb 2-Pack

Choose from 16 million possible colors, control shades of white, and dial in the perfect brightness while saving energy with these LED bulbs. Use the app controls to adjust times, create mood scenes, and even use the lights for colorful notifications.

Amazon Smart Plug

Optimize your home’s energy usage and turn almost any device into a smart one with this plug. Lamps, fans, coffee makers, and more can be programmed and automated using the Alexa app.

Honeywell HYF260 QuietSet whole room tower fan

With a sturdy base and compact footprint, this tower fan offers five levels of cooling, sound and power settings, reducing your reliance on air conditioning to cool your room. A remote control is included so you can adjust the airflow from anywhere.

LG High Efficiency Foldable Front Load Washing Machine with 6Motion Technology

This washer has a large 4.5 cubic foot capacity and six wash strokes to wash clothes more efficiently, even in cold water. Its 30-inch depth fits into smaller spaces and can be stacked with a matching LG dryer or upright washer.

LG 9.0-Cu.-Ft. Stackable Smart Electric Dryer with Steam and Built-in Intelligence

Not only is this dryer big enough to dry a king-size comforter plus sheets, but it can also select the best drying motion and temperature for each load. It also has a wrinkle-relieving steam setting, app controls, a reversible door, and quiet operation.

LG 27-inch Smart Electric Single-Station Washing Machine

This tower model saves floor space, energy and money with Energy Star certification. The 4.5-cubic-foot washer and 7.4-cubic-foot dryer feature automatic wash and dry settings and app controls. This unit has an estimated annual operating cost of just $13.

P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Monitor

If you’re trying to diagnose excessive energy usage or just want to know how much energy a device is using, connect it to this monitor to measure its electricity usage over the course of a day, week, month or year. It calculates your energy costs and displays volts, amps or wattage with 0.2% accuracy.

Prices listed reflect the date and time of publication and are subject to change.

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