Frequently Asked Questions

General

• How do I get started improving my home's energy efficiency?
• What is ACEEE's energy efficiency rating for the appliance I am considering?
• What happened to ACEEE's lists of most efficient appliances?
• How do I find high-efficiency models of a particular appliance?
  

Heating

• How is the energy efficiency of heating equipment rated?
• What steps should I take to get an energy-efficient heating system installed in my home?
• When should I replace my heating system?
• How much money can I expect to save by replacing my old heating system?
• Should I install a programmable thermostat? Does it make sense to program several different set points throughout the day?

Air Conditioning

• How is the energy efficiency of cooling equipment rated?
• What steps should I take to get an energy-efficient cooling system installed in my home?
• According to my contractor, I need to replace the outdoor unit (the condenser) of my central air conditioner. Should I replace it alone or should I replace the indoor portion (the evaporator) at the same time?
• I would like to get rid of the window units that air condition my home. What are my options?
• My contractor recommends a "new refrigerant," something called "R-410a." What is this all about?

Water Heating

• What should I do if i have an electric storage water heater?
• Should I get one of those new tankless water heaters?
• My house is heated with an oil-fired boiler. What's the best choice for water heating?

Appliances

• How can I find information about clothes dryer efficiency?
• Do high-efficiency clothes washers also use less water?
• Do high-efficiency dishwashers also use less water?

Lighting

• How can I find a replacement for my halogen torchiere lamp with the same brightness and light quality?
• Should I be concerned about the mercury that is in my CFL light bulb?
  

Links above will lead you to areas of the web site that will answer the selected questions. Below are responses to the general questions.

How do I find high-efficiency models of a particular appliance?

First, review our material on what to look for in a new appliance. Then, go to one of the following resources to find which products meet these guidelines.

For Home Appliances, including kitchen and laundry, room A/C and electronics, consult the ENERGY STAR qualified product listings. Click on the product you're looking for, then look for "product list" at the right-hand side of the web page. For "2nd Tier" products that are even more efficent than ENERGY STAR, look at the the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) qualifying product lists for clothes washers and dishwashers.

For Furnaces, Boilers and Water Heaters, consult ENERGY STAR (not for water heaters) as described above or go to GAMA's certified product directories. Each link provides information about how to determine the right product for your needs followed by a list of high-efficiency model numbers.

For Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, search the CEE Directory of ARI Verified Equipment. You can limit your search by selecting higher "tiers" of efficiency under "CEE Tier" and selecting the proper size (cooling capacity) for your home if you know it.

Return to Top

ACEEE's product listings

Many people are referred to ACEEE's "efficiency ratings" to cross-check products they have found on Consumer Reports or elsewhere. It is a misconception that ACEEE rates products, however in the past ACEEE has provided lists of products that represent a "cream of the crop" in terms of manufacturer-rated energy-efficiency levels, for both ENERGY STAR and non-ENERGY STAR products. These lists have been discontinued for the time being, but if you would like to find out how a specific appliance model stacks up against others in terms of energy use, look for it in one of the regularly updated listings described above. For heating, cooling and water heating equipment, it is far more important to find a contractor who specializes in installing high-efficiency systems.

Page last updated March, 2007.