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"  LG&amp;#039;S TROMM SteamWasher includes a steam-only cycle that removes wrinkles and refreshes clothing without water or detergent. Time was, we judged our dishwashers, clothes washers, and refrigerators on how well they cleaned or chilled\u2014never mind that they hogged energy and gulped way too much water. Nowadays, we want our appliances to perform well and conserve resources. Energy Star\u2013rated (ES) models have been doing that since 1992, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a government-sponsored program\u2014they partnered with the Department of Energy (DOE) in 1996\u2014that set strict energy-efficiency guidelines for select appliances and products such as heating systems and home electronics. To qualify for the blue ES logo on a yellow EnergyGuide label, refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines must exceed federal standards for energy and water use\u2014standards that continuously become more stringent. This means that new ES units are likely to be more efficient than old ones, and will help you reap greater savings on your utility bills. Good thing, because such appliances can be pricey: They&amp;#039;re made from high-quality components (though the program doesn&amp;#039;t measure or ensure performance) and have more settings than unrated models. Following are the things to consider when shopping for these workhorses, plus great new fridges and washers to suit a variety of skimping styles.Refrigerators In addition to saving energy, GE&amp;#039;s stainless steel Profile PDS22SBS fridge has multilevel bins and a self-closing freezer drawer.Unlike most appliances that remain off until they are needed, the refrigerator-freezer is always on. In fact, in most homes, it&amp;#039;s the single biggest energy sucker in the kitchen, if not the entire house. This means the icebox can be a significant contributor to your monthly utility bill, unless you have a unit that incorporates the latest technology. To qualify for the ES program, these appliances must use at least 15 percent less power than required by current federal energy-efficiency standards (determined by factoring in size, configuration, and features) and be equipped with high-efficiency compressors, denser insulation than non-ES models, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms. But beware\u2014all ES models are not created equal. The most efficiently designed fridges have a total capacity of 16 to 22 cubic feet with the freezer on the bottom or the top rather than the side. Forgoing conveniences such as through-the-door cold water and automatic ice dispensers can reduce energy usage by up to 55 percent and save you money on the purchase price, as well. You can also reduce the amount of power your fridge uses by positioning it away from heat sources, such as ovens or dishwashers; keeping condenser coils clean (vacuum twice a year) and allowing air to circulate around them; and minimizing the amount of time the doors are open. Dishwashers The Ariston LI 700X has seven wash programs and a turbo fan that sucks up steam at the end of the cycle; it dries dishes in 25 minutes.Even though dishwashers use half the energy and one sixth the water of hand-scrubbing dinnerware, cookware, and utensils, they still consume significant amounts of these resources. Most of the electricity goes to heat the water they use. But today&amp;#039;s built-in machines\u2014a standard model measures 24&amp;quot; wide\u2014do perform better than their predecessors in energy and water savings. The EPA measures dishwasher efficiency based on two criteria: Annual Energy use (measured in kilowatt-hours under typical conditions) and the Energy Factor (a number that increases with the efficiency of the unit). ES dishwashers use at least 41 percent less power than the federal standards for energy consumption and can save more than $25 a year on utility bills compared with models that meet but do not exceed the current federal standard. Top-of-the-line units have a stainless steel tub for longevity and aesthetics. Homeowners can optimize savings by running the dishwasher only when it&amp;#039;s full; using the air-dry instead of the heat-dry feature; avoiding the rinse-hold and prerinse options; and choosing a light or energy-saving wash cycle for dishes that are only slightly soiled. Clothes Washers On average, your dirty duds require a staggering 40 gallons of water per load. So if a family of four does about five loads of laundry per week\u2014well, you do the math. Front-loading units\u2014similar to the ones found in your neighborhood laundromat\u2014are the biggest savers. They require less water and energy to operate than top-loaders, plus their industrial-chic design adds modern flair. Currently, only a handful of top-loading machines meet the ES standard, and those still use more water and \u00ADenergy than the front-loading types. Compared with a 13-year-old model, a new ES washer can save approximately $110 on average per year on your utility bills. It uses as much as 50 percent less energy than one of today&amp;#039;s non-ES washing machines and saves about 20 gallons of water per load. Front-loading machines have high-revolution spin cycles that extract more water from the clothes, which allows for shorter drying times, thus saving more energy. Look for models with a water-level setting that adjusts to the load weight automatically. The ES program rates washers in several ways to make it easy for consumers to select the most efficient unit. Look for a low Water Factor (which measures the number of gallons the washer uses per cubic foot) and a low number of kilowatt-hours of electricity (which is based on average energy usage for 392 loads of laundry per year). Choose a model with a high Modified Energy Factor (which considers machine capacity, electricity, and the energy required to remove the remaining moisture from clothing). To ensure optimal performance, always operate machines with full loads; wash clothes in cold water to save on the electricity required for heating the water; and, if your washer has spin options, choose high speed or extended modes to reduce the amount of wetness in laundry, and thus the drying time.  What&amp;#039;s Your E-Style? Match your energy-saving ways to these top-rated machines*  CHEAPSKATE MISER TIGHTWAD  Refrigerators: Using only 483 kwh per year, Sub-Zero&amp;#039;s 20.6 cubic-foot 650 fridge is 15 percent more efficient than the ES standard. $6,420. Sub-Zero; 800-222-7820,subzero.com.  Operating 18 percent more efficiently than federal standards, the Profile PDS22SBS uses 476 kwh per year. $1,949. GE Appliances; 800-626-2005, geappliances.com. Rated at 21 percent better than federal energy guidelines, the ABB2222FEW 21.86 cubic-foot fridge uses 459 kwh per year. $1,099. Amana; 800-843-0304, amana.com.  24&amp;quot; Dishwashers: The LI 700X is 74 percent more efficient than federal energy standards and uses 270 kwh per year. $1,249. Ariston; 888-426-0825, aristonappliances.us.  Operating at 141 percent better than federal standards and using 194 kwh per year, the D3531XLHD is extremely effi\u00ADcient. $1,799. Asko; 800-898-1879, askousa.com. The Integra 800 series SHX98M09UC runs at 147 percent better than federal standards and uses 190 kwh per year. $1,499. Bosch; 800-944-2904, boschappliances.com.  Clothes Washers: Designed to fit under a standard countertop, the 2.5-cubic-foot LHW0050P compact washer uses 212 kwh per year. $799. Whirlpool; 866-698-2538, whirlpool.com. This 4.0-cubic-foot HE5t uses just 173 kwh per year, and 71 percent less water per load than a pre-2004 front-loading unit. $1,300. Kenmore; 800-349-4358, kenmore.com. The tromm 4.0 cubic-feet SteamWasher WM2688H uses a meager 171 kwh per year. $1,699. LG; 800-243-0000,us.lge.com.  *As evaluated by the makers using federal standards **All have freezers on the bottom  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elledecor.com/home-remodeling-renovating/a1229/good-green-super-savers-43743/>