Featured Pro: Eric Stromer
Category: Home Improvement
Time: 1:50


ERIC STROMER: Hey, I’m Eric Stromer, and this is your GMC Trade Secret.

Now, conservation is important to everyone. And you can start to conserve energy before you even install an appliance by becoming familiar with the Energy Guide labels and knowing what the energy ratings mean right here.

Now, all appliances we use in our home are required to come with a yellow Energy Guide label like this one here. And this label is designed to inform you about how the appliance uses energy and estimates how much it will cost you to power that appliance.

Now, the first number you see here is the dollar amount, okay. This is an estimate of how much it will cost to run the appliance for a year. That’s actually pretty good. Now, this number is placed on a scale to show you how this particular appliance compares to similar models.

Below the dollar amount, the yellow label indicates how much energy that particular appliance model uses, right here. Now, this number is measured in kilowatt hours per year. This number is only a national average.

Now, to find out how much this appliance will cost you, look at your utility bill and figure out how much you pay per kilowatt hour and times it by this number.

Now, when shopping for new appliances, compare Energy Guide labels to help you pick one that uses energy wisely. Keep in mind that an appliance with a lower sticker price at the register could cost you more in utility bills down the road. If this appliance has an exceptional energy rating, then you will also see the EPA’s Energy Star logo somewhere on the Energy Guide label. That’s right here.

The energy stamp of approval indicates that the appliance exceeds the industry’s efficiency standard levels by 15 percent or more.

Well, that’s it. By understanding the numbers on the Energy Guide labels, you can make a choice that’s wise for your wallet and the planet.

I’m Eric Stromer, and that’s your GMC Trade Secret.