I recently bought a home with many appliances approaching 20 years old. As I expect that many of them will fail over the next several years, I want to get a head start on replacing them (since last-minute replacements are typically quite costly and inconvenient). Here are the appliances I am considering replacing:
- Dishwasher (cold water line only -- uses electric coil to heat water)
- Furnace (natural gas-fired)
- Water heater (natural gas-fired, 40 gallons / 150 liters)
- Refrigerator
- Clothes dryer (vented, electric resistance)
In order to have the greatest sustainability benefit, which of these should I replace first?
Other important factors:
- The clothes dryer is paired with a recently purchased ENERGY STAR rated front-loading clothes washer which is very effective at extracting water from the clothing
- Our climate is humid continental (southern Wisconsin, USA)
- Where possible/practical, we are using these appliances in the most water- and energy-efficient way -- air-drying dishes, turning down the thermostat at night/while at work, line-drying clothing, etc