Saw this article yesterday about how some states are offering pretty hefty rebates for switching to ENERGY STAR certified appliances. Seems like a good deal, but kinda wondering if the savings actually add up long-term or it's mostly hype...anyone looked into this?
"Seems like a good deal, but kinda wondering if the savings actually add up long-term or it's mostly hype..."
Did some quick math when I replaced my fridge last year. Rebates helped upfront, but honestly, monthly savings were pretty minimal. Maybe bigger appliances see more noticeable differences...anyone checked washers or dryers?
I swapped out my washer and dryer about two years ago, mostly because the old ones sounded like a jet engine taking off every time I did laundry. Rebates were decent enough to make me feel good about the purchase, but honestly, the energy savings weren't exactly life-changing.
That said, water usage dropped noticeably with the new washer. My water bill went down a bit—nothing huge, but enough to notice after a few months. The dryer though...meh. It was supposed to be super efficient, but I swear it takes longer to dry clothes now than my ancient one did. Maybe it's just me being impatient, but I don't think I'm saving much electricity if I'm running it twice as long.
Funny story: when I first got the washer, I was so excited about the "eco-friendly" cycle that I used it exclusively for weeks. Then I realized my clothes weren't smelling quite as fresh as usual. Turns out the eco-cycle uses way less water and lower temps, which is great for saving energy but not so great for sweaty gym clothes or muddy jeans from yard work. Lesson learned—sometimes you gotta sacrifice a little efficiency for clean socks.
Overall, I'd say rebates are nice upfront perks, and you'll probably see some modest savings over time, especially with water-efficient washers. But don't expect miracles or massive drops in your utility bills. Still beats listening to my old washer's spin cycle rattling the entire house though...
"Turns out the eco-cycle uses way less water and lower temps, which is great for saving energy but not so great for sweaty gym clothes or muddy jeans from yard work."
Haha, yeah, learned that one the hard way myself. Those eco-cycles are great in theory, but sometimes you just need a good old-fashioned wash to get things properly clean. Still, quieter machines and a noticeable drop in water usage aren't bad perks at all. Like you said, not life-changing savings, but definitely beats feeling like you're living next to an airport runway every laundry day...
