The Best Energy-Efficient Products for Your Home

Becoming more energy efficient at home is not just about cutting back or “doing without.” It is about getting the same, or better, comfort and performance from your home while using less energy and spending less money.

This guide walks through the most impactful energy-efficient products for your home, how they work, what to look for when you shop, and how to pair them with the right electricity plan (if you live in a deregulated area) using Power Wizard.

An energy-efficient product delivers the same function or comfort using less energy than a standard option. You still get cold air, hot water, clean clothes, bright lighting, and more, but your home uses fewer kilowatt-hours (kWh) to achieve those results. For example:

• Lighting: Switching from traditional incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs can reduce lighting-related energy use by up to 90 percent while providing the same brightness.
• Appliances: High-efficiency washers, dryers, refrigerators, and dishwashers (especially ENERGY STAR-certified models) are engineered to use less electricity and water than conventional models.
• Electronics and controls: Smart thermostats, advanced power strips, and smart plugs optimize how and when your home uses electricity.

Below are the highest-impact products you can adopt in your home, along with how they work, what to look for, and where they save the most.

1. Smart Thermostats

What they do
Smart thermostats connect to your Wi-Fi and automatically adjust heating and cooling settings based on your preferences, schedule, and often your location. It can learn when you are home, when you typically leave, and which temperatures you prefer.

How they save energy

• Automatically reduce heating or cooling when you are asleep or away.
• Some use geofencing to detect when you are on your way home and adjust temperatures accordingly.
• Some provide insights into your HVAC usage so you can fine-tune settings.

What to look for

• Compatibility with your existing HVAC system.
• Remote control via a mobile app.
• Learning or automation features (schedules, occupancy detection, or geofencing).
• If available, ENERGY STAR® certification for additional efficiency assurance.

Where they have the biggest impact

• Homes with central air conditioning or heating that are frequently running.
• Households with regular daily patterns (work, school, etc.).
• Larger homes where heating and cooling represent a significant share of the energy bill.

2. LED Lighting: Easy First Step to Save Energy

What they do

LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs and fixtures produce the same amount of light as traditional bulbs while using far less energy and lasting up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

How do they save energy

• LEDs can reduce lighting energy use by up to 90 percent compared with incandescent bulbs.
• Their long lifespan means fewer replacements, less waste, and lower maintenance costs.

What to look for

• Lumens (brightness) instead of just watts.
• Color temperature (soft white, daylight, etc.) for the desired ambiance.
• Dimmable functionality if you use dimmer switches.
• ENERGY STAR® certified LEDs for verified efficiency.

Where they have the biggest impact

• High-use areas such as kitchens, living rooms, hallways, and outdoor security lighting.
• Recessed lighting, track lighting, and hard-to-reach fixtures where long life is especially valuable.

3. Stop Phantom Loads: Use Smart Plugs & Power Strips

What they do

Advanced power strips (APS) and smart plugs reduce the electricity used by phantom loads (also called vampire load or standby power), which is the power drawn by devices even when they appear to be off but remain plugged in.

How do they save energy

• Automatically cut power to connected devices when a “master” device is turned off (for example, your TV).
• Shut off devices based on timers, occupancy sensors, or schedules.
• Help prevent idle electronics such as gaming consoles, streaming boxes, and chargers from using unnecessary energy.

What to look for

• Type of control: master-controlled outlets, timer-based outlets, or occupancy-based outlets.
• Number of outlets and spacing for larger plugs.
• Integration with smart-home platforms if you want app or voice control.

Where they have the biggest impact

• Entertainment centers with TVs, game consoles, streaming devices, and audio systems.
• Home offices with computers, monitors, printers, and speakers.
• Areas with many chargers and small electronics.

4. High-Efficiency Washers: Save on Hot Water and Electricity

What they do

High-efficiency (HE) washers are designed to clean clothes using significantly less water and energy than traditional washers. You can extend these savings by washing only full loads with cold water.

How do they save energy

• They use far less water per load, which reduces both your water bill and the energy needed to heat that water.
• They spin at higher speeds, removing more moisture from clothes and cutting dryer time, which lowers electricity use.

What to look for

• ENERGY STAR® certification, which indicates superior energy and water efficiency.
• Capacity that matches your household size and laundry habits.
• Multiple cycle options and high-speed spin cycles to reduce drying time.

Where they have the biggest impact

• Larger households run more laundry.
• Homes where hot or warm-water wash cycles are common.
• Households looking to reduce both electricity and water bills.

5. ENERGY STAR® Appliances: HVAC, Refrigerators & More

Beyond washers, several other major appliances offer strong energy savings when you choose ENERGY STAR® certified models:

• Refrigerators and freezers: Modern, efficient models use substantially less electricity than older units.
• Dishwashers: ENERGY STAR® dishwashers use less water and energy per cycle than handwashing an equivalent load in many cases.
• Heating and cooling equipment: High-efficiency heat pumps, air conditioners, and furnaces can deliver significant long-term savings, especially in climates with high heating or cooling needs.

ENERGY STAR® certified products are independently tested and must meet or exceed energy-efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

It can be difficult to gauge efficiency just by looking at an appliance. That is why standardized labels exist to help you make informed choices.

The ENERGY STAR® Label

What it is

• A voluntary program run by the U.S. government that identifies products meeting defined efficiency criteria.
• Products with the ENERGY STAR® mark have been independently tested and verified to use less energy without sacrificing performance.

Why it matters

• In 2019 alone, ENERGY STAR® certified products helped U.S. households and businesses save an estimated $39 billion in energy costs.
• Choosing ENERGY STAR® is a simple way to ensure a minimum level of efficiency when you upgrade appliances, electronics, or HVAC equipment.

The EnergyGuide Label

What it is

• A bright yellow label is required on many appliances sold in the United States.
• Shows estimated yearly electricity usage and operating cost so you can compare models.

How to use it

• Compare the estimated annual energy cost across similar models.
• Combine this information with equipment price and features to estimate the total cost of ownership over the life of the product.
• Avoid buying major appliances without an EnergyGuide label, as it becomes much harder to gauge long-term energy cost.

Improving efficiency at home might seem like a small step, but the impact on your wallet and the environment can be significant.

• Household savings and comfort: When you layer several efficient products together, each small gain adds up to meaningful annual savings and a more comfortable home.
• Nationwide impact: Although the U.S. economy has grown significantly over the past two decades, national energy consumption has remained relatively stable since 2000, in part due to efficiency improvements across homes, vehicles, and industry.
• Environmental benefits: Using less energy reduces the need to generate power from coal and other fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

Beyond individual homes, energy efficiency also influences how buildings and infrastructure are designed:

• Smarter buildings: New homes and commercial buildings increasingly incorporate efficient materials, insulation, windows, and appliances from the start, reducing long-term energy demand.
• Smarter grids and waste reduction: Technologies like combined heat and power and smart grids help capture wasted energy and distribute electricity more intelligently, improving overall system efficiency.
• More efficient transportation: Energy-efficient vehicles and lighter materials reduce energy use in the transportation sector, complementing savings achieved in buildings.

The bottom line: When many people adopt energy-efficient products and habits at home, the collective effect lowers emissions, eases stress on the grid, and helps avoid costly new power plants or large-scale infrastructure projects. It also encourages investment in and development of more sustainable energy infrastructure.

Improving your home’s energy efficiency doesn’t have to happen all at once. You can phase changes to get quick wins while planning for larger upgrades over time.

Step 1: Tackle Low-Cost, High-Impact Upgrades

Start with easy, affordable improvements that deliver immediate savings:

• Replace incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR-certified LED bulbs in your most-used fixtures.
• Install advanced power strips for entertainment centers and home offices.
• Adjust your existing thermostat schedule to avoid heating or cooling an empty home.

These steps usually require little to no professional help, are relatively inexpensive, and pay back quickly.

Step 2: Plan for Larger Efficiency Investments

Next, evaluate bigger-ticket items that can deliver long-term value:

• Upgrade to a smart thermostat to better control heating and cooling.
• Replace aging washers, refrigerators, and dishwashers with high-efficiency, ENERGY STAR-certified models.
• When the time comes to replace your heating or cooling equipment, consider high-efficiency systems that can materially reduce your energy use.

Step 3: Make Sure You Are Not Overpaying for Electricity

If you’re in a deregulated area, confirm that your electricity rate is competitive for your usage pattern. Paying too much per kilowatt-hour can offset the savings you gain from efficient products.

Power Wizard shows you available energy plans in your area, so you can select a plan that aligns with your home and average consumption, rather than overpaying for electricity.