The most energy efficient appliances in 2022

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When searching for a new home appliance, factors to consider often include price, cost, and appearance. Choosing an energy-efficient home appliance can save you hundreds of dollars on electricity bills each year. 

While the upfront cost may be more than conventional appliances, the benefits of energy-efficient appliances are worth the added expense. Tracking the energy use of your appliances can also contribute to reducing your utility bill and your carbon footprint. Discover how much power your current appliances consume with our free online energy usage calculator.

How is energy efficiency verified?

Despite what appliance manufacturers claim, the ENERGY STAR rating is the only government-backed standard. About 40% of Fortune 500 companies partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to verify the energy efficiency of products. A product can only become ENERGY STAR certified when it passes EPA energy efficiency ratings. ENERGY STAR certified homes are 10% more efficient than the standard home.

ENERGY STAR publishes its criteria annually and ranks appliances based on performance and energy efficiency. This guide will help you learn about the most energy-efficient appliances in 2022.

ENERGY STAR also provides a Most Efficient list for commercial appliances. Enter your ZIP code to find the best electricity rates for your business.

Central air conditioners

The top energy-efficient central air conditioners provide the most home comfort while using the least power. ENERGY STAR recommends replacing your air conditioner and heating system at the same time to ensure the systems perform at the rated efficiency. They also recommend regular maintenance to ensure your system works properly and to help avoid extra costs. AirEase and Amana brands made the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient list for 2022. The annual energy use for both series varies based on the model type. 

AirEase Pro series

• Annual energy use: 1,008 – 2,520 kWh
• Comfort Sync technology connects to a smartphone app and virtual assistant
• 20LX Inverter-Driven Scroll Compressor keeps a house on desired temperature 
• Uses 50% less energy than standard systems

Amana High-Efficiency Air Conditioner

• Annual energy use: 832.6 – 2204.7
• ComfortNet System for an easy-to-use thermostat display and communication
• Variable-speed compressor provides a quiet performance

Clothes washers

ENERGY STAR labeled clothes washers use 25% less energy and 33% less water than regular washers. Making the switch from a standard washer can save customers about $370 on electricity bills. To save money and energy, ENERGY STAR recommends getting a front load washer, running full loads, and washing in cold water. The LG and Samsung brands ranked top of the 2022 Most Efficient list. 

LG Mega Capacity Front Load Washer

• Annual energy use: 105 kWh/yr
• Annual water use: 4423 gallons/yr
• TurboWash technology to wash large loads in 30 minutes
• Technology to auto-select a wash cycle 
• Control washer from anywhere with smartphone app

Samsung Ultra Capacity Front Load Washer

• Annual energy use: 103 kWh/yr
• Annual water use: 4491 gallons/yr
• Can complete a full wash in 28 minutes with Super Speed Wash
• Technology to auto-select a wash cycle and amount of detergent needed
• Smartphone app for alerts, including stop and start times and scheduled cycles

Clothes dryers

ENERGY STAR certified dryers use about 30% less energy than other clothes dryers. Every dryer on the 2022 list is a heat pump dryer, meaning the system heats the air, removes moisture from clothes, and reuses the air. The upfront cost of a heat pump dryer may be more than standard electric clothes dryers, but the heat pump dryer will save money and energy over time. ENERGY STAR recommends choosing a model with a high Combined Energy Factor (CEF). The higher the CEF, the less energy is used, making the clothes dryer more energy efficient. 

Beko 24” Front-Load Heat Pump Ventless Dryer

• CEF: 11
• Annual energy use: 217 kWh/yr
• 50% more savings on energy versus standard clothes dryers
• Compact size to save space in your home
• Water level sensor to automatically drain extra water in the tank

Insignia Electric Dryer with Ventless Drying

• CEF: 10.14
• Annual energy use: 236 kWh/yr
• 16 drying cycle options and five temperature levels
• LCD screen and controls for simple use

Dehumidifiers

ENERGY STAR labeled dehumidifiers perform the same as conventional dehumidifiers while using 15% less energy. The ENERGY STAR most efficient in 2022 includes both whole home and portable dehumidifiers. Whole home dehumidifiers control humidity throughout an entire house. Portable options are best for customers looking to control the moisture in one large area. 

Lennox Healthy Climate Whole Home Dehumidifier

• Dehumidifier Efficiency (L/kWh): 2.35 
• Dehumidifier Water Removal Capacity: 85 pints/day
• Controls the entire house’s humidity levels
• Sensor measures house’s relative humidity

Midea 50-pint EnergyStar Smart Dehumidifier

• Dehumidifier Efficiency (L/kWh): 1.95
• Dehumidifier Water Removal Capacity: 49.58
• Connects to smartphone
• Sends alerts when to wash your filter

Dishwashers

A total of 125 dishwashers made the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient list in 2022. ENERGY STAR recommends exploring standard-capacity models with many wash cycle options. For example, the auto-sensing cycle can determine the amount of water used during the wash. They also recommend using a dishwasher over hand washing because it saves energy, time, money, and water — more than 8,000 gallons of water a year. Find two of the top dishwashers on the 2022 Most Efficient list below.

Beko Slim Size 

• Annual energy use: 220 kWh/yr
• Water use: 2.4 gallons/cycle
• Adjustable middle rack to fit all-sized dishes
• Quiet washing technology
• Stainless steel interiors

Blomberg Top Control Dishwasher

• Annual energy use: 220 kWh/yr
• Water use: 2.4 gallons/cycle
• Adjustable upper rack to fit all-sized dishes
• Multiple insulation layers provide concealed heating
• System automatically adjusts based on water and energy needs for each load

Furnaces

Gas furnace efficiency labels vary across the United States. The northern states need more heat and are labeled with the standard ENERGY STAR logo. The southern states receive the “U.S. South” ENERGY STAR logo. Furnaces in the north are 15% more energy efficient, while furnaces in the southern states are 11% more efficient than standard models. The energy-efficient models can save customers $30-$85 each year on energy bills. 

ENERGY STAR requires furnaces to have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 97% or higher. The AFUE means the furnace can convert at least 97% of its fuel to usable heat. The Lennox Low Emissions and Sure Gas Furnaces are the best on the market, according to EPA standards. 

Lennox Low Emissions Gas Furnace

• Efficiency (AFUE): 99%
• Variable-speed fan for steady airflow
• Insulated blower for maximum efficiency
• Humidity control 

Sure Gas Furnace

• Efficiency (AFUE): 98.7%
• Variable-speed motor for quiet performance
• Direct spark for ignition reliability 
• Drain sensor to detect blocked drains

Refrigerators

When searching for a refrigerator, ENERGY STAR recommends 16-20 cubic feet models. They also suggest features to use the least amount of energy, such as top freezers and fewer doors. Refrigerators on the 2022 Most Efficient list must be 30% more efficient than federal requirements. The Blomberg and Beko brands made the top of the list for refrigerators. 

Beko Freezer Bottom Stainless Steel Refrigerator

• Annual energy use: 286 kWh/yr
• Total volume: 11.4 ft3
• Blue Light technology to preserve the taste and vitamins in fruits and vegetables
• NeoFrost Dual Cooling to prevent the transfer of odors
• Reversible doors to customize to your home’s needs

Blomberg Free Standing Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

• Annual energy use: 286 kWh/yr
• Total volume: 11.4 ft3
• Frost-free bottom freezer
• Duo cycle cooling to maintain even air temperature
• Reversible doors to customize to your home’s needs

Other ways to save on energy bills

Solar energy

While using these appliances can help reduce your electricity rate, choosing solar energy is another alternative to save money on energy bills. SaveOnEnergy.com®  provides resources for you to learn about the benefits of choosing solar panels for your home. The federal government is offering a 30% solar tax credit to help offset the total cost.

Switch providers

If you think you’re paying too much for electricity, consider switching providers. SaveOnEnergy makes finding electricity rates and switching providers easy by providing all the resources you need. Enter your ZIP code above to find current energy rates near you. 

Emporia Energy

Check out Emporia Energy for other ways to save money by reducing energy consumption. Emporia products help customers track their energy usage. Use discount code “SAVEONENERGY” to save 5% on your purchase of Emporia products.

Find the full list of energy-efficient appliances at the ENERGY STAR website. If you are interested in a new energy rate, call the number on your screen to learn more about energy plans near you.