What Are Energy-Efficient Appliances? A Simple Guide for Smarter Living

Jun 03, 2025

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Choosing an energy-efficient model can help you in the long run if you're in the market for a new appliance. In this article, we’ll explore what energy-efficient appliances are and how they can help reduce your energy use at home.

We’ll also look at how Acima Leasing’s lease-to-own option can help you bring energy-saving appliances into your home. Whether upgrading your kitchen or replacing a single appliance, we’ll show you how to use an option that could work with your budget and lifestyle.

Why Use Lease-to-Own For Your Appliances

Appliances can be an essential shopping decision. Lease-to-own can offer a simpler way to shop for your needs while staying within your budget. Here are a few reasons to explore Acima Leasing when you're shopping for energy-efficient appliances:

Simple approval: Apply in minutes with basic requirements:

An active checking account with at least $750 of income per month
Three-months of income history with your current source of income
A government-issued photo ID and a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number

Shopping power: If approved, you could be eligible for up to $5,000 in merchandise**. You can enjoy your appliances and track your lease renewal payments in a way that aligns with your payday.

Extended access: Shop from over 15,000 retailers in-store, online or on the Acima Leasing App.

What Are Energy-Efficient Appliances?

Energy-efficient appliances do the same job as regular ones but can use less power or water. You’ll often see an ENERGY STAR® label on them. That label means the appliance follows specific standards for saving energy. (1) (2)

Why Energy-Efficient Appliances Are Great

Let’s look at some of the most common appliances and how choosing energy-efficient models can make a difference.

Energy-Saving Refrigerators

Refrigerators use a notable amount of power. Switching to an energy-efficient one can help your home's energy use. ENERGY STAR® refrigerators are about 9% more energy efficient than standard models. That could help you use less energy over the years. (4)

Today’s refrigerators have better insulation and smarter temperature controls (5). If you're also thinking about how to clean up after dinner, a good dishwasher can help you save energy and water, too.

Dishwashers That Save Energy and Water

High-efficiency dishwashers can use less than half the energy of handwashing and ENERGY STAR® dishwashers can save 8,400 gallons of water each year. Some models can even sense how dirty your dishes are and adjust the wash cycle. Choosing one of these dishwashers means you can have great results while using fewer resources. (6) (7)

Choosing an energy-efficient dishwasher can give you great results while using fewer resources. Now let’s look at how freezers can also help you save energy at home.

Freezers That Use Less Power

Not all freezers are the same. According to ENERGY STAR®, certified models use about 10% less energy. Choosing the right freezer can help lower energy use. For example, manual defrost models use about half the energy of automatic ones. Picking the right size for your space and storage needs can also help avoid wasting power. (8)

Washing Machines That Work Hard and Save

Washing machines can also be big energy users. They often run multiple times a week, so the type of washer you choose can significantly impact your overall energy and water use. Energy-efficient washers can use about 20% less energy and about 30% less water than regular models. Before you choose a model, it’s helpful to think about how and where you’ll use it. Consider where you want to place your washer and whether you typically run small or large loads (2)

Making Energy-Efficient Appliances Affordable

With Acima Leasing, you can bring energy-saving appliances home without using credit*. It's another way to update your space with practical, everyday essentials supporting energy-smart living.

Ready to explore more? Choose your way to shop and see how lease-to-own can expand your options while shopping for appliances that fit your home.

The content of this article is provided solely for general interest and should not be relied upon or construed as any form of advice, whether legal, financial, or otherwise. Receipt or use of this information does not create any sort of relationship between us.

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