While we seem to focus so much attention on searching for and purchasing the most energy-efficient refrigerator and freezer, it turns out that how much food you store in your fridge or freezer has a significant impact on how energy-efficient they are. According to these green shopping tips at Ideal Bite, your fridge and freezer will function more efficiently when they are full, but not overstuffed.

So, here’s a thought: Next time you head out to do some grocery shopping, make it worth your while. Running in for just a few things multiple times a week ends up costing much more in the long run due to impulse purchases and wasted fuel. By planning meals, and shopping from a grocery list, you’ll conserve fuel, save money on groceries, and conserve energy. I guess the express lane isn’t the “easy out” I thought it was.

Of all household appliances, refrigerators are near the top of the list when it comes to energy consumption. If you’re looking for a green refrigerator to help you save energy, consider the following tips:

Read the Labels: A great first step in selecting green household appliances, refrigerators included, is to narrow down your search by reading the energy consumption labels on the appliances. By doing so, you’ll quickly be able to determine which appliances are the most energy-efficient.

Don’t Buy More than You Need: Larger refrigerators require more energy than smaller ones. Buying a large refrigerator when a small one is sufficient, results in wasted energy due to continuously cooling space that you simply don’t need. On the flip side, if your family currently requires two refrigerators, you might want to consider upgrading to a single, but large, energy-efficient refrigerator, because one large refrigerator requires less energy than two smaller ones.

Style: When it comes to saving energy, the greenest refrigerators are typically top or bottom freezer models. However, you should always pay attention to energy saver appliance labels as manufacturers are continuously developing new styles of green appliances which consume less energy than their predecessors.

For a typical family of 4, laundry is truly a never-ending chore. And, with more than 40 gallons of water and a cup of laundry detergent consumed with every load, laundry takes its toll on the environment too. In fact, if you’re looking for ways to save water and conserve energy, then adding green appliances to your laundry room is a great place to start.

The Staber model HXW2304 is an energy-efficient washing machine that uses 67% less water per load, 50% less energy, and 75% less detergent. It works using a patented horizontal axis agitation process, and it’s the only top loading washer in the U.S. of its kind. The unique design of this water conserving washing machine eliminates the middle agitator bar found in traditional washing machines, so you can fit up to twice as much laundry inside.

In addition to the environmental benefits such as conserving water and saving energy, adding an eco-friendly washing machine to your green home can help you save a few dollars too. Staber Industries, Inc. estimates that this model saves consumers an average of $300 per year.