Most Eco-friendly Home Appliances for Sustainable Living
Updated: Mar. 23, 2024
Slash your energy bills when you upgrade with these Energy Star-certified appliances!
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With prices going up everywhere you turn, you might be looking to cut costs where you can (like your electric bill). Energy-efficient and eco-friendly appliances consume less electricity than standard home appliances and therefore, helps lower your monthly energy costs. In addition to cutting costs, you can also reduce your effect on the environment with energy efficient-appliances—a win-win, right?
Below are some of our favorite energy-efficient and eco-friendly home appliances that are Energy Star-certified.
Best Energy-Efficient Appliances
- Best Green Washer and Dryer: LG HE Smart Front Load Washer and Dryer
- Best Green Dishwasher: Whirlpool Top Control Dishwasher
- Best Green Stove and Oven: GE Freestanding Electric Range
- Best Green Refrigerator: Samsung Family Hub Smart Refrigerator
Green Washers and Dryers
According to Energy Star, the average American family washes around 300 loads of laundry per year. By cutting water and energy costs, energy-efficient washers can save about $550 over their lifespan. If Americans collectively switched to Energy Star-certified dryers, we could save more than $1.5 billion each year in utility costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 2 million vehicles.
This Energy Star-certified Maytag washer has smart features to manage laundry anywhere, an extra power button to fight tough stains, a quick wash cycle, and delayed start and deep fill options. We also love this high-efficiency LG WashTower with AI technology and an Energy Star rating for additional savings without sacrificing performance.
Last but not least, if you feel like splurging a little on a dryer that protects your clothes, has moisture-sensing technology and special heat pump technology that equates to up to 60% energy savings, then this Miele Smart Dryer is for you. Its moisture-sensing technology cares for all fabric types, so you can protect your clothes and the environment.
Green Dishwashers
A standard-sized Energy Star-certified dishwasher costs around $35 per year to run—here are some of our favorites.
This affordable Whirlpool dishwasher has a sensor cycle option that chooses custom settings for each load to keep water and energy usage low. It’s quiet and has hidden top controls plus a pocket handle.
Coming from one of the best dishwasher brands on the market, this Bosch Energy Star model has CrystalDry technology for the ultimate dry dishes, extremely quiet operation and a flexible third rack with expandable wings for more space for silverware and cooking utensils.
Green Stoves and Ovens
It’s no secret that induction stoves are much more efficient than conventional electric and gas stoves. While there is no Energy Star label for residential ovens, ranges or microwaves (though Energy Star does rate commercial ovens), you can save energy by using an induction stovetop. Additionally, convection ovens typically use 20% less energy than standard ovens. Self-cleaning ovens rate a little better in efficiency because they come insulated.
General Electric has some great freestanding electric range models on the market, like this single-oven model with a ceramic glass cooktop and this double-oven model with built-in Wi-Fi and smart home technology.
Green Refrigerators
Energy Star-certified refrigerators offer features such as high-efficiency compressors that create less heat and use less energy, improved insulation to ensure food stays cold and temperature mechanisms that help refrigerators operate more efficiently. Some of our favorites include the Samsung Family Hub Smart Refrigerator, which has high-end smart features and still meets Energy Star requirements. It has a through-door ice and water dispenser on one side and a large interactive touchscreen on the other that lets you see inside your refrigerator, manage family calendars, stream music, see who’s at the door and more.
We also love this affordable LG option if you’re looking for something sleek and functional, but without all the bells and whistles. You can also save money when you bundle this LG fridge with other energy-efficient LG appliances at Lowe’s.
Good news! Those retro-inspired refrigerators you love from Smeg and Galanz are likely Energy Star certified, too. This Smeg top-freezer refrigerator meets the criteria for Energy Star certification, as does this vintage-looking Galanz fridge with removable glass shelves and an adjustable thermostat.
Originally Published: June 19, 2019
