ENERGY STAR® For Your Home

Are you interested in products that save energy, save money and help protect the environment - all at the same time? Then look for the ENERGY STAR label. The ENERGY STAR is a national symbol for energy efficiency. The label identifies products that consume less energy and have met guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy.

The Department of Energy estimates that if only one in ten homes were to purchase ENERGY STAR labeled appliances, the change to our atmosphere would be like planting 1.7 million new acres of trees, every year. And if all consumers purchased ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, consumers would save almost $5 billion in energy costs over the next 15 years.

Appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy efficiency criteria without sacrificing performance. They're made to fit the style of your home with state-of-the-art designs and premium features.

Choosing an ENERGY STAR-labeled appliance has never been easier.  Lake City Utilities can help you identify qualifying models, point out savings advantages and even provide you with rebates to lower your initial cost of purchase.

  ENERGY STAR Rebate Application (also available from area retailers)

  ENERGY STAR Dehumidifier Rebate Coupon

Lake City Utilities Offers Rebates Year-Round For The Following ENERGY STAR Qualified Products:

• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) require only one-quarter to one-third of the energy of regular incandescent bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer. They are even available in dimmable, flood, and 3-way styles. If each U.S. household replaced one regular bulb with a compact fluorescent, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, consumers would collectively save more than $600 million a year. The energy saved, meanwhile, would be enough to light seven million homes, and the greenhouse gas reductions from power plants would be the equivalent of removing 1.2 million cars from the road for one year!
• Light Fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR combine quality and attractive design with the highest levels of energy efficiency available today. The look of ENERGY STAR lighting has evolved into decorative fixtures, sconces, outdoor lighting, and ceiling fan lighting that uses only 25% of the energy of traditional lighting and helps protect our environment.  Rebates are available for the following ENERGY STAR-qualified lighting products:
  • hardwired CFL fixtures
  • hardwired LED fixtures
  • torchieres
  • ceiling fans with lighting
  • compact fluorescent light kits for ceiling fans
• Refrigerators and Freezers are two of the biggest power consumers in your household. If your existing units are at least 10 years old, the energy use of these appliances could be cut in half. Additional rebates are even available to help pay the cost of properly recycling your old working refrigerator and freezer!
• Dishwashers are at least 25% more efficient than conventional models.
• Clothes Washers will save you both water and energy per load - reducing water use from 35-50% and using 50% less energy when compared to standard clothes washers.
• Room Air Conditioners are at least 10% more efficient than conventional models. An additional rebate is even available to help pay the cost of proper recycling of your old working room air conditioner!
• Central Air Conditioners and Air Source Heat Pumps can save you 20% or more on your cooling costs. Use this Heating & Cooling System Performance Calculator to compare operating costs for various equipment types. You may also be eligible for a Federal Tax Credit of up to $300 for high-efficiency central air conditioners and heat pumps. Contact your tax advisor for advice.
• Dehumidifiers use substantially less energy than standard units and can save more than $190 in electricity bills over the life of the unit. Trade-in your old working dehumidifier and buy an ENERGY STAR model to qualify for a rebate.

Contact us if you need assistance or have any questions about ENERGY STAR products.

More Great Ways to Save Energy and Protect the Environment

ENERGY STAR Home Electronics

In the average home, 40% of all electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off to power features like clock displays and remote controls.  Those that have earned the ENERGY STAR use as much as 50% less energy to perform these functions, while providing the same performance at the same price as less-efficient models.  Less energy means you pay less on your energy bill.

Simple actions can make a big difference.  The average home has roughly two TVs, a VCR, a DVD player and three telephones.  If these items were replaced with ENERGY STAR models, it would save over 25 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent to taking over 3 million cars off the road.  The Lawrence Berkeley National Lab estimates that waste from electronic equipment on standby costs U.S. households over $5 billion in electricity each year.

Help preserve our environment for future generations by purchasing ENERGY STAR qualified home electronics.  They have all the bells and whistles you're looking for along with energy-saving technology.

 Home Electronics Fact Sheet

Recycling Information

Is your old TV serving as a coffee table while your retired computer is doubling as a plant stand? And with new technology introduced every day (more powerful computers, HDTVs, and combination wireless phone and internet), do you wonder just how many plant stands and coffee tables you have room for?

You're not alone. That's why the US Environmental Protection Agency has launched the "Plug-In to eCycling" campaign to get the word out about opportunities to reuse and recycle your old computers, TVs, and cell phones. And Americans are plugging-in to eCycling all over the country!

Recycling your old electronics is smart and good for the environment, not to mention your decor. Click here to find out which businesses are accepting electronics for recycling or reuse. Though some of these businesses may not be found in rural towns, we encourage you to take your old electronics to the closest location possible.