If you’re shopping for a new dishwasher, what are your top concerns?

Noise levels? Color? Price? You might not even put “energy efficient” on the list! And if you do, you might not know how to figure out which dishwasher actually saves energy.

That’s a mistake.

We’re partnering with Constellation Energy to remind you why energy efficiency needs to be a priority when you shop.

We’re also going to tell you what to look for, including the #1 secret that will make sure you get the most efficient model to meet your needs.

But first, why bother?

Dishwashers and other home appliances use a lot of electricity. For most of us that still means we’re relying on polluting fossil fuels like coal for power. And you know what happens every time your local utility burns coal? The air gets dirtier, the atmosphere gets filled with more carbon dioxide, and climate change gets worse.

The less energy your dishwasher uses, the cleaner it is to operate. But that’s not all.

The more efficient it is, the more money it saves on your electric bill, too.

Constellation projects you’ll save up to $35 a year on electricity with a more efficient model – enough to pay for several boxes or bottles of dishwashing detergent.

Plus, an energy-efficient dishwasher offers another benefit that’s good for the environment as well as your pocketbook: it uses less water. Take a look at this graphic from Constellation:

And don’t even think that you can save more energy and water by skipping the dishwasher and washing all your dishes by hand! The EPA reports that a new ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher not only cleans dishes better and kills more germs. It uses less than half as much energy as washing dishes by hand and saves more than 5,000 gallons of water each year. That adds up to big savings, too!

So…how do you know which dishwashers are energy efficient?

The Secret is…Look for those that are ENERGY STAR certified.

ENERGY STAR is a program created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to motivate manufacturers to build and sell highly efficient appliances like dishwashers. An appliance that bears the ENERGY STAR logo uses a LOT less energy and water than one that does not. According to EPA:

“Standard-size dishwashers that have earned the ENERGY STAR are on average 12 percent more energy efficient and 30 percent more water efficient than those that have not.”

Once you locate energy-efficient dishwashers that bear the ENERGY STAR logo, you can then compare other factors, like how quiet they are when they operate, and what other features they offer that will help you save energy. (Here’s a picture of my own dishwasher; the ENERGY STAR label is right on the inside of the door.)

You can also check the yellow Energy Guide label you’ll see on various machines to compare how much energy each machine is projected to use.

After you get your dishwasher home, Constellation says here’s how you can use it to save energy and water and still get your dishes clean.

For more excellent ways to save energy, visit Constellation here.

NOTE: Our partnerships enable us to provide expert content so you can live the green life you want. Our editorial opinions remain our own. Thanks.

The post Here’s the #1 Secret to Buying an Energy-Efficient Dishwasher appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

Home Renovations: You can earn up to 30% in federal tax credits on the first $1,500 you spend on improving the energy efficiency of your home.  These credits apply only to existing home renovations and not to new construction. Remember: a tax credit is better than a deduction because it actually reduces the amount of money you pay tax on at the end of the year.

Qualifying products include energy-efficient:

• windows and doors
• insulation
• roofs
• central air conditioners, furnaces, and boilers
• water heaters
• biomass stoves (like those that burn wood, wood pellets, dried corn, etc.)

This credit expires at the end of 2010, so act sometime in the next eleven months to take advantage of this benefit.

Alternative Energy Substitutions: If you’ve been thinking of transitioning to a renewable home energy system, you have until the end of 2016 to use tax credits to help defray the expense.  These credits are also being offered at 30% of cost, but with no upper limit (in other words, if you spend $20,000 putting solar panels on your roof, the credits could generate as much as a $6,000 tax credit). Qualifying systems include:

• geothermal heat pumps
• solar panels
• solar water heaters
• small wind energy systems

The EnergyStar website offers more details on what systems qualify and which ones don’t.

Federal Hybrid Vehicle Tax Credits

When I bought my hybrid Prius in 2002 for around $20,000, I received $4,000 in tax credits: $2,000 from the IRS, and $2,000 from my state government. Today, the rules for hybrid vechicle credits are a little more complicated.  Hybrids purchased after December 31, 2005 are eligible for a credit up to $3,400, but that number declines once the car manufacturer sells over 60,000 units of a particular hybrid model.  GM and Chrysler are still offering full credits; Ford is offering reduced credits until the end of March 2010.  The credits are subject to change, so check back frequently.

State Credits

Many states have created their own financial incentives for going green.  Check out DSIRE.org for a comprehensive list of what your state can offer you, including tax credits, rebate programs, and much more.

The post Green Tax Credits Can Help You Save Money appeared first on Big Green Purse.