According to the Department Of Energy, there are many brands out there (some you may not have even heard of), that will help you keep your money in your pocket, so if you are in the market for new appliances you may be interested in their recommendations. Follow the links below to find out more. DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on July 14 the first Energy Star products recognized as the most energy-efficient in their categories. The announcement covers four categories—clothes washers, televisions, heating and cooling equipment, and refrigerator-freezers—although the "Most Efficient" lists are currently only available for clothes washers, televisions, central air conditioners, and air-source heat pumps. The new designation of "Most Efficient," representing approximately the top 5% of the models on the market, aims to provide manufacturers with an incentive for greater product energy efficiency while providing consumers new information about the products that comprise the top tier in each category. The pilot program is part of Energy Star's overall commitment to protect people's health and the environment by encouraging energy efficiency. The "Most Efficient" lists include products by Crosley, Electrolux, Frigidaire, LG, Panasonic, Rheem, and Samsung, as well as Sears' Kenmore brand and Best Buy's Insignia brand. Later this year, the EPA will initiate a process to consider additional product categories for inclusion in 2012. Consumers can find cited products on the Energy Star website and in stores by looking for the "Most Efficient" designation. In addition to meeting established performance requirements, products must also be Energy Star qualified and certified by an EPA-recognized certification body. Energy Star is a joint program of the EPA and DOE. See theDOE press releaseand the"Most Efficient" productson the Energy Star website. Late-night refrigerator snacks may make you feel bad about indulging in guilty pleasures, but at least you don't have to feel bad about how high your energy bill will be to cure your cravings. That's because of innovative technology and meaningful energy conservation standards put into place by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Building Technologies Program. In recent decades, DOE has led technological innovation that vastly improved the energy efficiency of our refrigerators and freezers (and other household appliances). As a result, it's a lot easier on your pocket and on the environment to keep that ice cream at peak frosty perfection. In fact, today's refrigerators use only about 25% of the energy that was required to power models built in 1975. Even while continually improving efficiency to meet standards, refrigerators have increased in size by almost 20%, have added energy-using features such as through-the-door ice, and provide more benefits than ever before. Refrigerators today can be customized to fit consumer needs with touch-screen displays, glass doors, or even a beer tap. See theEnergy Blog post.
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