CostCandid

An ENERGY STAR dishwasher can use less electricity and less water than a less-efficient standard model. But that doesn't automatically mean it's worth paying hundreds of dollars more. The useful question is: How much will the lower utility use actually save during the years I own the dishwasher? That's the calculation most appliance comparisons skip. Under current ENERGY STAR criteria, a standard-size certified dishwasher must use no more than 240 kWh per year and 3.2 gallons of water per cycle . For comparison, the current federal efficiency benchmark for a standard-size conventional dishwasher is up to 307 kWh per year and 5.0 gallons per cycle . Using those two benchmarks, the ENERGY STAR model saves electricity and water. But whether that justifies a higher purchase price depends on your utility rates, how often you run the dishwasher, the price difference and how long you keep it. Quick Answer: How Much Can ENERGY STAR Save? Using the curren...

Is it actually cheaper to use a dishwasher than to wash dishes by hand? For many U.S. households, a modern efficient dishwasher can use surprisingly little water and energy. But the real cost depends on how you wash dishes, how often you run the dishwasher, your local water and sewer rates, and how much hot water you use at the sink. That means the useful question is not simply whether a dishwasher uses less water. You need to compare water, sewer, electricity, and water-heating costs together. The calculator below lets you do exactly that using your own household numbers. Quick answer: For full loads, a modern efficient dishwasher will often use substantially less water than washing the same dishes under running water by hand. ENERGY STAR says a new certified dishwasher uses less than half as much energy as washing dishes by hand and can save about 8,400 gallons of water per year. But your actual dollar savings depend heavily on your hand-washing habits, hot-wat...

Should you buy a 20-pint, 35-pint, or 50-pint dehumidifier? The obvious answer might seem simple: a smaller dehumidifier uses less electricity, so it must cost less to run. But that is not always how dehumidifiers work in a real home. A smaller unit may draw less power while running, but it may need to run much longer to control humidity in a large or damp space. A larger unit may use more power per hour but reach the target humidity sooner. That means the cheapest dehumidifier to run is not necessarily the one with the lowest wattage. The calculator below lets you compare 20-, 35- and 50-pint size classes using wattage, actual daily runtime, electricity rate, purchase price and years of ownership. Quick answer: For a smaller or moderately damp space, a smaller dehumidifier may provide enough capacity with lower power draw and a lower purchase price. For a larger basement or a space with a heavier moisture load, a higher-capacity dehumidifier may be more economical ...

A regular refrigerator may cost less than a garage-ready model, but purchase price is only part of the decision. If your garage becomes very hot in summer or cold in winter, the more important question is whether the refrigerator is designed to operate under those conditions. That makes this comparison different from a normal appliance cost comparison. The cheapest refrigerator is not necessarily the cheapest usable refrigerator for your garage. Use the calculator below to compare purchase price, electricity cost and long-term ownership cost. Then compare your garage temperatures with the manufacturer-specified operating range for each exact model. Quick answer: A garage-ready refrigerator can be worth the extra cost if your garage regularly gets hotter or colder than the operating conditions allowed for the regular refrigerator you are considering. Some current GE garage-ready refrigerators, for example, are tested to perform from 38°F to 110°F . That does not mean ...