If you've been to a store - any store - in the last few years, you've noticed the blue Energy Star symbol. This designation is reserved for home appliances that meet certain government-related standards for energy efficiency. In many cases, they'll save you bundle on annual energy costs to operate, if you are able to fork over some additional dollars on the front end. So if you're curious if an Energy Star appliance is right for you, then check out this Wise Bread article that offers a full rundown on the topic. While many tax credits for purchasing Energy Star appliances expired at the beginning of this year, they can still be a very smart purchase.
For example, here's a calculator to tell if it'll be worth it to replace your current fridge with a new, Energy Star one.
Read the Wise Bread piece for all the details on how else you can save. And if the math works out for you and the environment, then you may be in for a shopping trip this weekend.
Source: Wise Bread - How Much Money Will You Save With Energy Star Appliances?