With Presidents’ Day sales in less than a week, many New Yorkers will be looking for deals on major appliances and many are likely to focus on ENERGY STAR^®. According to a recent survey by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New Yorkers understand the value of ENERGY STAR certified appliances because they believe the ENERGY STAR label is an indicator of financial and energy savings. 

The vast majority of those polled (78 percent) reported that they had purchased an energy-efficient appliance model, and 70 percent said it is important that their appliances be ENERGY STAR^® certified. 

Energy-efficient appliances can reduce energy bills year after year by 20 to 30 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, so consumers looking for the best deal should factor in the cost of running an appliance as well as the price paid when comparing options. 

The NYSERDA survey was conducted by KJT Research for NYSERDA to gain a better understanding of consumer preferences and attitudes about making appliance purchases and the importance they place on energy-efficient models. A total of 2,027 New York State consumers who had purchased a major appliance, such as a refrigerator or clothes washer, in the past 12 months participated in the survey. 

Consumers who purchased an appliance at a store took two to three weeks to make the purchase after beginning their research. Of those consumers, 53 percent decided what to buy before they went to the store, and 47 percent decided what to buy while at the store (after browsing an average of 34 minutes).

To help consumers select the most energy-efficient appliances and maximize their savings, NYSERDA suggests consumers follow these steps: 

• Step 1: Remember that there are two costs associated with an appliance: the price you pay to purchase it and the energy cost to run it year after year.
• Step 2: Look for the ENERGY STAR label. Just because the product details might have “energy efficient” listed, it doesn’t mean it’s been engineered to be the most efficient. ENERGY STAR certified products have been independently tested to meet rigorous standards for energy efficiency and quality. That means they’ll give you the same (or more) service for less energy while helping to protect the environment. They also offer improved quality and durability. With products in more than 60 categories, there are many ENERGY STAR options to choose from.
• Step 3: Read the yellow EnergyGuide label. This standard label, displayed on most appliances, will tell you how much energy the product uses, along with an estimated annual operating cost. By comparing these two figures on similar models you’ll be able to identify the most energy efficient option.
• Step 4: Recycle your old appliance. Ask your retailer if they have a recycling program. If not, recycling centers or local non-profits in your area might have recycling programs that make it easy to dispose of old units.

For more tips on appliance shopping, go to nyserda.ny.gov/save.