The True Cost of Home Appliances

Whether you’re doing a home renovation or replacing an old or broken appliance, the shopping process can feel overwhelming. There are so many choices.

When looking at options, you’ll consider everything from product dimensions to brand name to style. Regardless of which factors you consider, the decision usually comes down to purchase price—which is only part of the story.

That’s only what you’ll pay that day, whereas the variable costs – energy costs and maintenance, for example – paint a much bigger picture of the true cost of appliances.

The true cost is what you should really think about when making your decision. An energy efficient appliance may have a higher upfront cost because of the quality and technology it uses, but the savings generated over time could more than make up the difference.

Consider this scenario:

Your clothes washer has been on the fritz for some time, and now, it’s stopped working for good. How frustrating!

Several headaches later, you find yourself searching for a replacement, and you’re quickly overwhelmed by the choices. Another headache!

Looking for a shortcut, you rely on the advice of your fellow consumers and only check out the models with the best ratings. Now, it’s down to two models currently in stock at your local appliance dealer.

Option A is $399. It’s made by a reputable brand. It fits your space and seems to wash clothes just fine with no frills.

Option B is $699. Reputable brand? Check. Right dimensions? Check. Washes clothes just fine? Sure. But this one is ENERGY STAR® certified. Is it worth the extra $300?

Here’s what you should know. The average family does over 300 loads of laundry each year, using a good amount of energy and water each time. A new ENERGY STAR washer uses 25% less energy and 45% less water than regular washers. The result is about $45 in energy savings and over 3,000 fewer gallons of water annually. Over the lifespan of the washer – typically 14 years – that’s much greater savings than $300.

And that’s just clothes washers. For nearly every category of appliances and home electronics, there is an ENERGY STAR® alternative that will save on energy and maintenance costs.

The higher upfront price of efficient models can be daunting. We get it. But Mass Save wants to make the benefits of energy efficient appliances accessible to as many Massachusetts residents as possible. That’s why we offer a wide range of rebates on appliances for your home.

For a full list of rebates that will help you save energy and money, click here.