Did you know that a refrigerator purchased today is almost four times more efficient than one purchased in the 1970s?

If you’re thinking about buying a new appliance, you may want to compare appliances using the full life-cycle cost—that is, the cost of ownership over the life of the appliance. You can calculate it using this formula:

(annual energy cost x expected life of appliance) + purchase price = life-cycle cost of appliance

You can find an estimate of the annual energy cost on the yellow EnergyGuide label on the appliance. By the way, the label also will show you how this appliance rates in terms of energy use compared to similar models.

Other appliance tips:

• Consider choosing an ENERGY STAR^®-labeled appliance. The ENERGY STAR rating means an appliance meets strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Purchase the right size appliance for your needs. Buying something bigger and more powerful than you need means you may end up paying for unneeded energy.
• When replacing an appliance, be sure to recycle the old one instead of just throwing it away. Earth 911 provides a valuable guide to recycling resources in your area.