If you are thinking about purchasing a new clothes washer or dishwasher, look for ENERGY STAR models. These are the most energy efficient models on the market and will save energy, save money, and help the environment.
Minimize water use while brushing teeth, shaving, and washing hands in bathroom sinks.
A faucet that leaks one drip per second can waste 400 gallons of water in a year. If the water is hot that 400 gallons will cost you about $25 if you heat water with electricity or $15 if you heat water with gas, plus the cost of the water itself.
Federal standards limit new showerheads to no more than 2.5 gallons per minute, because the energy and water savings are enormous. Replacing older showerheads with low flow units could save a family of four as much as 15,000 gallons of water per year, reducing water heating costs by over $350 for electric hot water and over $60 for gas.
Install a water softener unit in-line before the water heater. This will prevent sediment from building up in the bottom of the water heater.
Ouch, not so hot! Lower the temperature of your water heater. This not only saves energy, but it reduces the chance of scalding. A 10° F reduction in temperature saves about 13% of your water heating costs. For an average family this amounts to savings of $90 if you heat water with gas or $150 with electricity. A temperature setting of 120° F is fine, unless your dishwasher doesn’t have a booster heater.
Wrap and reap (the energy savings). Wrapping your water heater with an insulating blanket can save $100 annually if you have gas hot water or $300 if you have electric. To see if your tank needs an insulation blanket, place your hand on the tank. If it feels warm then you need a blanket.
Simple valves, known as heat traps, can be attached to the water lines near the water heater to keep heat from escaping. You can recoup an investment of about $95 in one year if you heat your water with electricity, or two years if you use gas.
Use a suds-saver option (if you have one) when washing lightly soiled clothes. This saves the rinse water for the next load.
Most people in the appliance industry agree that cold water washes just as effectively as warm. By eliminating warm rinse cycles, for most households, the actual savings range from $300 to $600 per year for electric upgrades and around $25 to $125 per year for gas upgrades, depending on the model.

Electric Water Heater Savings

Upgrading from a standard electric resistance tank to an Energy Star certified heat pump water heater provides the most significant reduction in utility costs.

  • Average Savings: A family of four can save approximately $550 per year on their electric bills.
  • Efficiency: These units are 2–4 times more efficient than standard models because they move heat rather than generate it.
  • Lifetime Value: Over the appliance’s lifespan, these savings can exceed $5,600.

Gas Water Heater Savings

Savings for gas units are typically lower than electric heat pumps but still exceed the $10 estimate for high-efficiency models.

typically saves a family of four about $25 per year.

can save a four-person household roughly $95 to $124 per year compared to a standard gas tank.
Soak cycles can allow for shorter wash times. For heavily soiled clothes, instead of a heavy wash cycle, try soaking and then using a shorter wash cycle.
Sort clothes by degree of dirtiness. Use shorter wash cycles for lightly soiled clothes.
Match the load setting to the size of the load. The load setting on your washer determines how much water is used. Smaller sized loads require less water.
Your clothes washer uses just about the same amount of energy regardless of how much clothing is being washed. Washing two small loads uses approximately twice as much energy as combining them into one full load. By combining loads together, you reduce the number of loads you wash which in turn reduces your energy use.
If you are thinking of replacing your washing machine, consider a horizontal axis, or front-loading unit. Recent research has shown that these machines can reduce energy use by over 50%, use significantly less water, require less detergent and shorter drying cycles, and reduce wear and tear on clothes. Several U.S. manufacturers now have front load models in the larger sizes preferred by Americans.
Don’t overload the dryer. Overloading makes the dryer work harder and may cause excessive lint and wrinkling.
Clean the lint filter after every load. Lint on the filter reduces air flow and makes the dryer work harder.
Lightweight items take less time to dry than heavier items like towels. Dry like weight items together.
Dry loads consecutively to take advantage of heat build-up in your dryer.
Removing clothes as soon as the cycle is complete not only saves energy but also prevents wrinkling.
Your dryer is most efficient when fully loaded. Combine smaller loads of wash into one dryer load, but be careful not to overload.
Line dry clothes during periods of nice weather to take advantage of the free, environmentally friendly energy from the sun.
Minimize pre-rinse. Newer dishwashers are better able to handle heavily soiled dishes and so require less pre-rinse.
Proper loading takes full advantage of the spraying action of your particular dishwasher. Load dishes according to the dishwasher manufacturer’s instructions. The owner’s manual gives proper loading instructions.
Use only recommended amounts of dishwashing detergent. If you use too much detergent the suds will not fully rinse and additional rinsing will be required; too little and the dishes will not clean properly.
Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water regardless of how many dishes are washed. Wash full loads whenever possible.
Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying heater.
Use a lighter wash cycle for lightly soiled dishes.

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