1. Evaluate Your Needs Taking a moment to assess your
needs, as opposed to jumping into a deal at a store, can save you in the long
run. Take, for example, a few notable appliances and electronics that can
result in big savings, if they are right for you. Toilets: New toilets must be low-flow, menaing they cannot use over
1.6 gallons per flush. Toilets predating 1995 may use anywhere between
3.5 and seven gallons per flush. Switching to new toilet can save over
$85 each year. Additionally, dual-flush toilets, which use 1.6 gallons
for solid waste and .8 for liquid, add 30-50% more savings. Washers: Front-loading clothes washer use less energy and less water
(up to 15 gallons per load less) than top-loading. A front-loading washer
could save around $40 per year on energy and another $40 on the 6000 gallons of
water saved. However, if the a top-loading washer is still for you,
because of a need for large capacity or the way your laundry room is set up,
there are Energy Star top-loading washes available. Dryers: Though dryers are not certified by Energy Star, there are
some options to consider. If available to you, using natural gas for
clothes dryers is much more efficient, cost effective, as compared to
electric. They heat up faster, requiring less heat energy over all.
The second consideratino is a moisture censor. A dryer using a moisture
sensor can save hundreds of dollars over its lifetime and will save
wear-and-tear on the clothes. Televisions: While ideal for high-light environments plasma TVs have been
measured to have twice the draw of LCD-TVs. So, while plasmas are often
better bargains, their electricity use will exceed similar LCD-TVs. 2. Consider the Products Is the appliance Energy Star certified? Once you have narrowed your search,
one of the most useful tools, in terms of energy use, is the EnergyGuide
label. Created by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of
Energy, the EnergyGuide label gives an evaluation of the energy use and
incurred costs of owning an appliance. Most appliances have an
EnergyGuide label on them at the store or are available upon request.
Below, is short de-mystification of the EnergyGuide label. 1. This is a list of the key
features
common to your appliance and
those it was compared to for the
EnergyGuide. 2. Exact make and model are
listed
to tell you what product the label
is actually for. 3. Estimated Yearly Operating
Cost
gives you an approximation of the
cost of electricity incurred throughout
a year of use. This is based on
average use and the national average
for electricity costs. Use this stat as
to compare to other appliances you
consider. 4. The Cost Range of Similar
Models
is an unweighted range of the average
use by products that share the same 5. Estimated Yearly Electricity
Use is
a stat that was also found by looking
at average annual use. You can use
this stat by multiplying it by the kWh
rate listed on electricity bill (or
averaged from multiple) to give you a
better idea of your annual cost. 6. If there is an Energy Star
label in
the corner of the EnergyGuide, this
affirms that the appliance qualified 3. Reconsider Your Use How you use your appliances is the
largest determinant in their energy consumption and cost to you. Consider: The largest part of energy
consumption by appliances and home electronics comes from the baseline draw of
being on a stand-by mode all the time. One solution is to put them on
power strips that you can turn off when you are away from home. Certain situations can cause your
appliances to waste energy while in use. If your dryer is in a cold
location, it will require more energy to get to the preset temperature.
The reverse is true of refrigerators and freezers. Purchasing new appliances is often
an exciting time for a homeowner, but without doing proper research those new
appliances could become a costly mistake. Today, there are near-infinite
varieties of every appliance you may need. According to the U.S. Department
of Energy, appliances and consumer electronics represent 20% of home
electricity consumption, 75% of that while they are not even in use. If
just follow a few simple steps, you can get the appliance that meets your
desires without doing damage to the environment or your wallet.
Using an Energy Star certified appliance or electronic device, means that you
are consuming 20-30% less energyy. Energy Star certification is
arranged through the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental
Protection agency.
features as the one this label is for.
If the appliance can or does
natural gas, annual consumption will
be listed in hundreds of cubic feet (ccf).
for the program.
For more tips on saving energy, visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy-Saving Tips
pages.