Dial in to savings with ENERGY STAR® certified appliances

Oct 11, 2024 | Energy Efficiency

When it comes time to replace that old appliance, you’ll probably be checking for the best price. Before that, look for the most efficient option—because it’s not just about what it costs to buy, but how much it’s going to cost each year for you to use. 

Today, many new appliances are designed with breakthrough technologies that can make your life easier and more sustainable, while saving you energy and money. 

Discover the best appliance innovations of 2024 

Find this year’s top appliances to help you save energy while increasing the value of your home at ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2024. Plus, with the added power of the rebate finder, your savings get even better.  

Here are just some ways today’s advanced appliances can make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. 

Refrigerators are getting smarter 

ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators come with high-efficiency compressors that create less heat and use less energy—plus improved insulation helps your food stay fresh longer. Temperature and defrost controls also operate more efficiently. We offer a $50 rebate on your purchase and another $50 for recycling your old fridge, making it the perfect time to make the switch!  

Leave the dishwashing to us 

ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers improve performance with soil sensors, water filtration, efficient jets, and dish rack designs that reduce energy and water consumption. An ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher could save you $3,200 over its lifetime compared to handwashing your dishes.

Come clean with energy efficiency 

ENERGY STAR clothes washers use a variety of methods to lift and tumble your laundry, preserving the life of your favorite items. And because they’re so gentle, many models can safely clean silk, wool and other hand-washables. Without a bulky agitator, there’s also more usable space, meaning fewer loads of laundry each week. 

Heat up your savings 

In winter, heat pumps pull heat from the outside to warm your home. And in the summer, they work like a standard air conditioner by absorbing unwanted heat on the inside and transferring it outside. Modern heat pumps can provide heating for approximately a third of the cost of traditional electric baseboard heating and approximately half of the cost of oil heat. Our rebates of up to $450 on air source heat pumps make heating and cooling your home more efficiently even more affordable. 

Cool off with ENERGY STAR 

ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners can use approximately 20% less energy. They come with higher–quality insulation, providing a better seal of the area between the unit and the window. We offer a $10 rebate for each working room A/C when you recycle two or more units. Schedule a free pickup and we’ll haul them away to be responsibly recycled.  

Get comfortable with less humidity 

New, more efficient dehumidifier models can use 13% less energy compared to older models. We offer a $25 rebate when you purchase a new dehumidifier that has earned an ENERGY STAR rating. Plus, we offer a $10 rebate for each working dehumidifier or room A/C when you recycle two or more units.

Monitor your savings 

Monitors that have earned the ENERGY STAR rating are about 7% more energy efficient than standard models. ENERGY STAR certified monitors meet stringent energy efficiency requirements in on, off, and sleep settings. Here’s a tip: To create the best energy savings, set your monitor to dim first, then enter a low–power sleep mode when the computer is inactive. 

Choose the best in energy efficiency 

To see this year’s top appliances, visit ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2024. By choosing ENERGY STAR appliances, you’re not just upgrading your home, you’re making an investment in long-term savings. For more tips and resources, visit SaveWithPPL.com. 

Game-changing energy savings

Sep 6, 2024 | Energy Efficiency

Everyone is gaming. From racing to role playing, the whole family is powering up.  

Playing on a gaming console?  

Avoid streaming media on your gaming system—it uses 15 times more energy than your digital media player and four times more energy than a traditional cable box or satellite. 

Don’t wait to update! Some software updates can help lower your gaming energy use by over 65%. 

Here are some more tips to help you save energy: 

• Review console settings: Adjust in-game graphics settings to find the right balance between performance and energy usage. Lowering graphics quality can significantly reduce power consumption and may make your computer cooler as well.
• Check your power supply: For best efficiency and value, look for an 80 Plus-rated power supply that is gold level, according to PC Magazine. An 80 Plus rating guarantees that the power supply will achieve a minimum of 80% efficiency. Here are some that meet the criteria: 
  • Thermaltake Toughpower 750W 
  • SegotepGM850 
  • EVGA 500 GD
• Unplug your console: Set your computer to turn off when you’re away from the keyboard—or if you aren’t going to use your console for a while, simply unplug it. If using a PC, schedule software updates during the day while you’re using your computer in other ways. 
• Use an advanced power strip: Watch for accessories that may still be plugged in and draining energy. Purchasing an advanced power strip from our Online Marketplace can help control your energy consumption.
• Turn off your controllers: Some consoles allow you to turn off controllers after a set time of inactivity. If that’s not an option, simply turn off your controllers when you stop playing.  

See how small changes can add up to big savings. Learn more at SaveWithPPL.com.   

Video and copy sources 

• Lawrence Berkeley National Lab 
• Entertainment Software Association 
• EnergyStar.gov 

Savings never looked so delicious

Aug 2, 2024 | Energy Efficiency

Summer is always a fun time to get family and friends together to share some great-tasting food. Why not skip cooking in a hot kitchen and grill outside? It’s an easy way to save energy and money.

Serving no-bake desserts is another way to enjoy the party. You’re not only saving time, you’re also helping to keep your home cool and lower appliance energy costs.

It all adds up! Spend less on energy so you can spend more on what matters most.

Here are some of our summer favorites to get you started. 

Grilled Texan chicken 

Step 1 – Ingredients

• ¼ cup Dijon mustard 
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice 
• 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 
• ½ teaspoon dried tarragon 
• ¼ teaspoon pepper 
• 4 boneless chicken breasts 

Combine ingredients in a dish to marinate.

Step 2 – Drain and grill uncovered over medium heat, turning once, for 8–12 minutes—or until a thermometer reads 165°F. 

(We made it. Check it out above!) 

No-bake yogurt and fruit tart 

Step 1 – Make your favorite no-bake crust, such as date, graham cracker, etc., and press into pan. 

Step 2 – Spread 1 cup of your favorite flavored Greek yogurt over the crust. 

Step 3 – Add a variety of fruit toppings. Get creative! 

(We made it. Check it out above!) 

Grilled chocolate chip cookies 

Step 1 – Gather the following ingredients:  

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 
• ½ cup sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature 
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 

Step 2 – Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.  

Step 3 – Cream the butter, brown sugar and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Beat in vanilla, then eggs one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. 

Step 4 – Add dry ingredients until just combined. Add chocolate and refrigerate dough in an airtight container at least 2 hours.  

Step 5 – Form dough into golf-ball-size rounds and place on a large sheet of foil, leaving 2 inches between cookies. Flatten partially with your palm.  

Step 6 – Set grill at medium heat (325°F to 375°F), transfer cookies to rack, close and grill for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.  

(We made it. Check it out above!) 

For more tips, tools and programs to help you save energy at home, visit SaveWithPPL.com. 

How to stay cool and save during the dog days of summer

Jul 16, 2024 | Energy Efficiency

The long days of summer mean higher temperatures, but they don’t have to mean higher energy costs.  We have easy tips to help you stay cool and save, so you can spend less on energy and more on what matters most. 

For instance, a smart thermostat is a great way to automate your summer settings and can save you up to $100 a year in energy costs. You can even check the temperature while you’re away to make sure your pet is comfortable. Save with generous rebates on smart thermostats at our Energy Efficiency Marketplace and find discounts on other energy-saving products. 

Another idea is to limit the use of your stove, dishwasher and dryer during the day. These appliances heat up your home fast. Try running your dishwasher and dryer after the sun goes down.  

And while dehumidifiers don’t technically cool a room, they do remove moisture from the air—which can keep your home healthier, as well as make it feel cooler and more comfortable. 

Feeling different temperatures from room to room? Updating insulation and sealing air leaks can keep the hot air out and improve the efficiency of your cooling system.  

And for extra savings, set your air conditioning fan to “auto.” That will dehumidify your home, keeping you cool and helping you save energy and money. It also helps prolong the life of your air filter. 

Get more energy-saving ideas and tips by going to SaveWithPPL.com.