ENERGY STAR - Appliances Service

Reach for the star… ENERGY STAR* that is!

When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay to use it (energy and water bills). When you upgrade or replace your old equipment, look for energy-efficient appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR. This mark may appear on the appliance, the packaging or the yellow EnergyGuide label.

Created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models. In some cases ENERGY STAR qualified appliances cost more to purchase, but the secondary price tag is less because they`re cheaper to use. In the long run, ENERGY STAR qualified appliances are the better investment.

Upgrades mean:

• Better fuel efficiency. New ENERGY STAR equipment boasts efficiencies as high as 85 percent or more (compare that with 60 percent average efficiencies of equipment back in the ‘70s) and can lower your energy bills by up to 40 percent.
• Improved comfort. Your home is heated faster and more evenly.
• A more compact design. Today’s units are often one-third the size of their ancestors – that means more room for you!
• Fewer service calls. Newer equipment is less likely to have a breakdown.
• A cleaner burning system that`s kinder to the environment.
• Whisper-quiet operation. You’ll hardly notice your new boiler or furnace is there!

Additional tips to save energy:

• Change your furnace filter regularly (at a minimum every three months).
• Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly (it will improve efficiency and comfort).
• Install a programmable thermostat (savings of about $180 per year).
• Seal your heating and cooling ducts (can improve the efficiency of your system by as much as 20 percent).
• Vacuum refrigerator coils at least once a year (will improve efficiency and life of appliance).

We offer a $75 energy-efficient clothes washer rebate for qualified purchases.

Several of our other rebates are administered through Recharge Colorado. Select the links below for additional information or visit Recharge Colorado.

• Furnaces (gas)
• Boilers (gas)
• Dishwashers
• Refrigerators (recycle your old fridge for an additional incentive)
• Water heaters (gas)

*Why do we require ENERGY STAR certification?
ENERGY STAR requires product performance must be certified by an EPA-recognized third party based on testing in an EPA-recognized lab before it can be labeled with the ENERGY STAR. In addition, ENERGY STAR manufacturers must participate in verification testing programs run by the Certification Bodies, as well as Department of Energy’s (DOE) parallel, targeted verification testing. Colorado Springs Utilities wants to ensure an independent third party reviews products and the efficiency ratings stated by manufacturers. As of March 31, 2011, more than 5,000 products across 30 categories had been certified. The EPA will continue to update performance requirements across all product categories as the market and technologies advance. DOE will continue to support EPA by monitoring and verifying compliance with the ENERGY STAR criteria and leading the development of product testing procedures.