Equipping your home with kitchen and other appliances can be equal part exciting and stressful. On the one hand, you get to pick all of the interesting gadgets and appliances that you will have in your home for years to come. On the other, you have to consider everything from practicality, to size to the color and power consumption.
Speaking of power consumption, there is a movement in recent years of buying energy-efficient appliances that are capable of producing the same work as regular appliances but waste a lot less electricity while doing so. We wanted to know where people can buy these appliances, so we talked to the helpful people at Lars Appliance Showroom. Here’s what they had to say.
Why Go for an Energy Efficient Appliance in the First Place?
There are a few reasons. The most obvious is that it will save you money on your energy bill every month. Even if the appliance costs a bit more upfront, it will quickly pay for itself with the amount of money you’ll save on utility bills.
Another reason is that it’s better for the environment. These appliances use less water and produce less greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, energy-efficient appliances often come with longer warranties than regular appliances. So, if you’re looking for an appliance that will last, an energy-efficient model is a good bet.
Websites like Energy Star appliance’s website are a great place to start your search because they provide a list of certified energy-efficient appliances. You can also find appliance showrooms that specialize in energy-efficient appliances.
Now that we’ve answered the question of why, let’s move on to the next one: where can you buy energy-efficient appliances?
Big Box Stores
Big box electronics stores like Best Buy or Lowe’s usually have a wide selection of energy-efficient appliances to choose from. They will typically have these appliances specially marked and probably marketed separately from the rest of the appliances.
If you opt for this route, however, make sure to know exactly what you want and what you need because the sales staff there most likely won’t be overly knowledgeable about these specific devices – they have so many different appliances and devices, it’s virtually impossible for them to know much about each of them.
Small Boutique Stores
If you want a more personal touch, and plenty of help when picking out your next home appliance, there are appliance stores and showrooms that will have knowledgeable staff who will be more than willing and capable of answering your questions.
These stores will likely carry fewer brands than a big box store, but they will have all the best choices – for all purposes and for all budgets. If excellent customer service is what you are after, you can’t go wrong with these.
Straight from the Manufacturer
You can also buy energy-efficient appliances directly from the manufacturer’s website. Once again, this is a good option if you know exactly what appliance you want and don’t need to see it in person before buying it.
That being said, in some instances, the manufacturer doesn’t offer purchasing directly from the website, but rather addresses you to a physical store or an online retailer.
Online Retailers
Online retailers like Amazon also have a wide selection, similar to a big box store. However, unlike a big box store, where you may get some input from the sales staff, online, you are basically relying on strangers’ reviews and manufacturers’ sales pitches – so it can be difficult to know if you’re getting a good deal or not.
It pretty much comes down to your personal preference – whether you are after saving money or having an informed purchase.