If you’re on a budget and need a new appliance, then your first inclination may be to go for the cheapest one. But before you lay your credit card down, think twice about whether the cheapest appliance is actually the most cost-effective one. After all, cheap appliances tend to waste a lot more energy, which means that while you may save money now, you’ll end up paying higher electricity bills in the long run.


The first and most important thing to keep in mind when shopping for energy-efficient appliances is to look for the EnergyStar label, which indicates that the appliance has been tested and proven to be significantly more energy efficient than non-EnergyStar appliances.

Aside from that, when shopping there are additional things to be aware of, including:

  1. Know the size that you need. For example, if you need a refrigerator and your household comprises just you and your spouse, then you may not need all the space offered by the larger refrigerators on the market. Getting a smaller one can save both space and energy.

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