New Appliances Save Consumers On Their Electricity Bills Nov 20, 2012

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The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) released its 2011 Energy Efficiency and Consumption Trends data for major home appliances. The data is based on 2011 shipments of major appliances and shows a continuing trend of decreased energy consumption.

AHAM said that, if consumers were to replace their 10-year-old refrigerator, clothes washer, and dishwasher of average efficiency with more energy efficient models manufactured in 2011, they would save, on average, $90 per year in electricity. Upgrading to an Energy Star unit would likely offer more savings.

AHAM found that energy consumption in refrigerators continued to decrease in 2011, with new refrigerators using an average of 452 kWh per year - more than 50% less than units made in 1990.

Dishwasher energy consumption is down nearly 51%, due to advances in energy efficiency, technologies such as soil sensors that use only as much water as needed, and more stainless steel interiors, which help dry dishes faster.

Clothes washer tub volume continues to increase while energy consumption decreases, meaning a 2011 washer will wash more clothes in one load for less energy. Washer energy use is down 75% since 1990, while tub capacity increased 32%.

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