When you're selecting appliances for your new home, you may be focusing on convenience and color - but energy efficiency is an even more important consideration. Why? Because energy-efficient appliances will cost you less to operate every time you use them. Over the life of the typical stove, refrigerator, dishwasher or other appliance, those lower operating costs can add up to tremendous savings. In addition, because you'll be using less energy, you'll help reduce the amount of pollutants that come from power plants.

The easiest way to choose an energy-efficient appliance is to look for the Energy Star® label. That tells you that the appliance you're considering has better-than-average efficiency. Looking at the yellow energy usage label can help, too - but it's important to know your local fuel costs so that you can compute an accurate projection of your costs. You may be surprised at what the difference in consumption between two similar models can be.

To get the most efficiency from all of your appliances, be sure to read and follow the operating instructions. For example, if you set your new refrigerator or freezer temperature too low, you'll use more electricity than you need to keep your food safe. Keeping your appliances clean and well-maintained will reduce their operating costs and ensure that they provide the performance you want for many years to come.

By the way, resist the temptation to put an older refrigerator or freezer from your current home in your new home's garage or basement, because the energy costs will probably be much higher than you think. Learn more here.

An excellent source for advice about appliances and more details about making energy-efficient choices can be found on the Energy Star® Web site.