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Appliance shopping? Compare more than price
If you're shopping for new or replacement household appliances, you need to compare more than just the prices of different models. That low-price washer, water heater or refrigerator may be inexpensive because it will cost you more to operate. This is where you need to consider life-cycle costs -- the total cost of buying and using an appliance over its lifetime. A less expensive freezer may use more energy and wear out faster; over time, the costlier model could end up saving you money. How can you tell what's the best buy? Actually, it's not hard, thanks to the Energy Guide information that comes with new major appliances. Energy Guide labels show the estimated annual cost of operating the appliance, and rank its energy-efficiency. So for washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and heating and cooling systems, check out those Energy Guide labels. Then you can compare price, features and all the other information and make a smart choice when you buy. If you can save $20 per year with a more energy efficient model, you should be willing to pay $50 or $100 more because you will save more in the long run.
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