In 1973, the USA and other countries received a rude and unexpected awakening concerning their energy consumption. In October of that year, largely as a result of the "Yom Kippur" war between Israel and Egypt, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (famously known to this day by its acronym "OPEC"), a loose confederation of oil-producing nations that had formed an uneasy alliance in an attempt to wrest control of global oil pricing from petroleum corporations, raised their prices 70%. Two months later they increased the price of oil another 130%. The result was the first so-called "Energy Crisis".
Some of the results: Daylight Saving Time was extended through the winter because studies showed that adjusting the time period in order to catch the most sunshine decreased energy usage nationally by 1.5%. Giant clocks over the entrances to local banks shut down. Speed limits were lowered to 55mph on Interstate highways. Long lines at filling stations became commonplace.
The "crisis" passed, only to be followed by another similar event in 1979. Overall, the price of crude oil increased tenfold (that's 1000%!) between 1973 and 1980.
I don't mean this to be a history lecture! I mention the above because this period was probably the first time the public's consciousness became aware of energy consumption.
(By the way, the formation and squabbling of OPEC makes for an interesting read. If interested, this article gives a great overview, and is the source of my data above.)
https://www.britannica.com/money/OPEC
The appliance industry has become gradually but steadily more efficient over time. In 1979 the D.O.E. (Department of Energy) began mandating minimum efficiency standards for appliances, and has steadily tightened those standards over the past decades. Appliances that use compressors (refrigerators, air conditioners), dishwashers, and clothes washers are all rated by the DOE for energy efficiency. This rating gives the consumer a simple and easy way to compare the efficiency of one appliance to another. The EnergyStar program was introduced in 1992 in an effort to highlight the most efficient products in each category.
(Additionally, I don't want to ignore the "big picture" benefits!)
Some of those benefits include: Reduction in the depletion of natural fuel sources, less dependence on "third parties" to keep our household and nation running, reduction in waste, cleaner air, just to name a few.
I'd also like to stress that ALL appliances are dramatically more efficient than their predecessors!
For examples:
- An Energy Star-qualified refrigerator purchased today will use as little as half the energy of a comparable model manufactured in 1990.
- An Energy Star clothes washer on the market today uses on average 10-20 gallons of water (depending on the chosen cycle) per wash load. Older non-HE (high efficiency) washers used 30-45 gallons per load. That's literally thousands of gallons saved per household per year! (And that doesn't account for the fact that today's washers hold, on average, 50% more clothes than their 1990s ancestors, so the real savings are even more dramatic!)
- An Energy Star-rated dishwasher uses 3-4 gallons of water per load, while pre-1994 models used 10-15 gallons. Overall electric use has also declined dramatically (from 3 kW per load to 1.2 kW). And, as with clothes washers, today's dishwashers have been "hollowed out" inside to allow the loading and cleaning of larger loads of dirty dishes.
"Cycle times on clothes washers and dishwashers are longer!" Yes, they are, and other than using a shorter cycle there really isn't much one can do about it. It may not seem intuitive, but that longer cycle on your appliance is actually using a LOT less energy than its predecessors. I would suggest finding solace in the fact that you are washing larger loads (especially in clothes washers), and that the reduction in your electric bill is significant.
"Today's appliances are more expensive!" Not really, in terms of "real dollars". As an example, in 1995 Manny's advertised an 18 cubic foot refrigerator, a top freezer with the old wire shelves, for $599. In 2026 dollars, that $599 translates into $1312. That same refrigerator sells today in the $650-$800 range, and you could probably time your purchase to find a model at $599.
(my source for the inflation number above is the US Inflation Calculator:) https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1995?amount=599
Is the average purchase price of a refrigerator today more than $599? Of course it is! Larger, prettier, brighter, better-controlled refrigerators are commonplace, and one can spend as much as $2500 (or more) for a four-door counter-depth refrigerator with an ice-and-water dispenser. Many of us are buying nicer, larger, and more stylish fridges today, as the kitchen has morphed from a utility area in older homes to a showcase in many modern homes. I can show similar examples in other appliance categories, but I do want to try and dispel the idea that we're paying more today than yesterday - we really aren't!
"Today's appliances cost more to repair". I think that's true to some extent. Just as with automobiles, the changes in engineering over the decades have resulted in fewer parts that can be easily accessed and replaced by the average person. Almost all appliances use some sort of circuit board technology, and yes, a board can be expensive to replace. Is it sometimes cheaper to replace than repair? On an appliance more than 6-7 years, the answer may well be "yes." (I'll delve into this more in a future blog.)
Overall, try and take comfort in the fact that your next appliance purchase will be made on a unit that functions better, and uses (in many cases) dramatically less energy.
And ... oh yes, check with your local utility company! Many offer rebate incentives on Energy Star appliances as an incentive to purchase a unit as eco-friendly as possible. I wish all utility companies offered these incentives, but sadly programs do vary from state to state, and even from one provider to another. There's no downside in checking, however!
As always, you can reach out to any of the sales professionals in our thirteen showrooms if you have any questions (locations and contact info are on the front page of our site).

















