Buy where you see the sign!

The distinctive orange and blue Energy Efficiency Recommended logo is the one to look for if you want to stop wasting energy in the home and help reduce the impact of climate change.

It appears on a variety of household appliances including fridges, washing machines, dishwashers and light bulbs and acts as your instant guarantee that the appliance on which it appears is ultra efficient and will save energy, money and the environment.

Most energy efficient appliances don't cost any more than their inefficient counterparts. But even in cases where they do, they still save money on bills and are therefore better value for money in the long run.

Obviously there is no need to rush out and buy new appliances if the ones you have are in good working order. However, if you are buying lightbulbs, replacing broken appliances or if you run particularly old electrical appliances in your kitchen and feel you need a change, you should be looking for the logo.

For example, you can save up to £45 on your electricity bill every year by replacing your ten-year-old fridge freezer with an Energy Efficiency Recommended model.

Energy efficient appliances use less power and cost less to run. And because they need less energy, they're responsible for fewer greenhouse gas emissions back at the power station - which is good news for the environment.

An energy efficient washing machine uses less than half the energy of an old, inefficient model and cuts water consumption considerably. An efficient fridge freezer needs as little as a third of the energy to do the same job as an old appliance.

Not all new appliances are energy efficient, though. So, to point shoppers in the right direction, the Energy Saving Trust created the Energy Efficiency Recommended logo. It is only awarded to appliances that pass a rigorous, impartial approval process. The logo is your assurance that the product you're buying will cost less to run and is kind to the environment.

Energy Efficiency Recommended complements the existing European Union A to G' energy label, which offers more detailed information.

For more information, call your Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on Freephone 0800 512 012 or visit the Energy Saving Trust's Energy Efficiency.

Recommended site, www.eerecommended.co.uk.