picking greener appliances

this is an article i've been meaning to post but haven't gotten around to formatting. so now, i have! in case any of you are taking the plunge into the appliance world, or replacing an older one, here's some help.

We spend about $1,900 on energy costs every year according to EnergyStar.gov. If all appliances in a home are replaced with EnergyStar certified ones, we could save ourselves up to $80--by conserving energy and helping to save the environment.

The EnergyStar label is only applied to a product if it meets a rigid set of requirements for appliances, home office equipment, and other household items. They must be created with the idea in mind to conserve energy and use as little as possible. Not only that, but EnergyStar products use 10-50% less energy and water than their standard counterparts.

By paying attention to the price tag at the present and the future of the appliance, consumers can easily determine which save them more money. And who doesn’t want that?

You should always look out for EnergyStar qualified products. They are the most efficient of their class. In addition to the EnergyStar label, check the federal EnergyGuide label on many major appliances. It’ll tell you how much it will cost to run the appliance over one year and the energy-efficiency rating of the product.

We’re going to show you some vital shopping tips for when you decide to replace that old clothes washer or dryer, oven, dishwasher, or refrigerator to help save you money and the environment its resources.

Clothes Washers & Dryers

• As with all appliances, look for the EnergyStar label. It’s the best choice you can make to eliminate a lot of models that won’t save you as much. Dryers, however, do not have an EnergyStar label. This is due to the fact that all of them use about the same amount of energy.
• Most households have ‘toploader’ or vertical-axis machines. These can waste water and leave clothes relatively wet which requires more drying time. Horizontal-axis machines combat this and use less water comparatively. If you’d like to save even more energy, consider not using a dryer altogether and hanging your clothes to dry on a clothesline.
• If you can’t afford a horizontal-axis machine, which are typically more expensive (and meet tougher standards), than wash your clothes in cold water. There are even detergents such as Tide Cold Water which can help you save energy and hundreds of dollars on your utility bills.
• The ideal dryer to invest in is one that has moisture sensors. ConsumerReports says, “The motion sensor will add $30 to $50 to the price of the dryer, but the increased efficiency it brings will eventually pay for the extra cost.”
• The machine will turn off when your clothes are dry, saving energy and your clothes from over-drying. If you’d like to save even more energy, ConsumerReports advises that you “clean the lint tray after every load.” This reduces the risk of a fire and makes the dryer more efficient.

Ovens

• Electric ovens generally cost more to run than gas ranges and ovens since they require more energy to cook.
• Self-cleaning ovens are one of the best type of energy-efficient ovens. They have more insulation which keeps the heat inside longer. Using the self-cleaning feature more than once a month, though, can waste more energy than you save.
• There are a few new burner types available for electric cook tops. The Halogen and induction types can be 60% more efficient than the solid disk and radiant types. While they are more expensive, they use less energy and don’t take as long to heat up. Keep in mind, however, that only iron and steel cooking-ware can be used on induction tops.

Dishwashers

• Features such as “energy-saving” and “short-wash” cycles should be sought after. More energy-efficient cycles will save you energy and water.
• Pick a dishwasher that allows you the choice between heat-drying and air-drying. Air-drying uses considerably less energy than heat-drying.
• There are dishwashers labeled compact capacity and standard capacity. The compact dishwasher holds less dishes, resulting in more frequent (energy) use.

Refrigerators

• Look for the EnergyGuide label to see how much energy each refrigerator will use. You can then compare them to find the one that uses the least over one year. If you’re stuck between two very similar refrigerators, this is a great way to eliminate some possibilities.
• Models with the freezer on the side are about 25% less efficient than those with the freezer either on the top or bottom.
• “Did you know that your refrigerator and freezer run more efficiently when they are full?” says Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director of the California Energy Commission. Maximizing the space in a refrigerator or freezer will help you make the most out of your buck.
• Having an icemaker and water dispenser in the door may be convenient, but it’ll cost you a 10-20% increase in the energy usage of your refrigerator.
• Choose the right size refrigerator for your household. Large ones will use a lot of energy and space while smaller ones, even though they use less energy, will fit less groceries and require more trips to the grocery store.
• Consider a refrigerator without an icemaker. They add to the energy usage in your electric bill, and can require frequent repairs. Instead, purchase one or two plastic ice cube racks and keep them filled with water and in the freezer. They can also make for some fun ice popsicle snacks!
• Use EnergyStar's Refrigerator Retirement Savings calculator to see how much your refrigerator is costing you and how much you'd save with an EnergyStar certified one.
  

How to read the EnergyGuide Label

1. Estimated energy consumption on a scale showing a range for similar models
2. Estimated yearly operating cost based on the national average cost of electricity.

Claudia emphasizes the fact that each appliance can save you different amounts of money. Determining which one to buy or replace is the hardest step. “For example, it may be cost effective for a consumer to replace their heating and air conditioning system if it is older than seven years old and they use the system a lot for air conditioning,” she says. It’s important to keep this in mind when shopping for a new appliance. Find out which appliance in your household is the oldest, and try to focus on replacing it.

One of the most important things to remember when looking for a greener appliance is how much it will cost you in the long run. Claudia believes consumers should, “check for the EnergyStar label and purchase an appliance that has low energy costs as compared to others in a similar size with similar features.” You might be surprised how different these ‘similar’ appliances are.

If you have an ancient freezer in the garage, though, and are thinking about upgrading it to a newer more energy-efficient one, think again. “I would recommend that a consumer get rid of it altogether!” she explains. It’s not worth the cost to run it; instead, try consolidating the groceries into one refrigerator.

If you have an older appliance hanging around still, consider the price tag you are currently paying for it month-to-month. Is it worth it? Would it cost less to buy a more energy-efficient model? These are some questions that should be answered and will help in determining what you and your family should do. Old appliances can also be recycled instead of being purely thrown out. Certain recycling centers will pick up the appliance for free, or even pay you for it. To check if your area has an appliance recycling program nearby, call 1 (800) YES ICAN.

[via energystar.gov, greenerchoices.org, consumerenergyreports.org, motherearthnews.com, eere.energy.gov, and Claudia Chandler from the California Energy Commission, whom made this article possible! :-)]

12 easy ways to save energy & the planet

here are some easy ways to save energy, while saving the earth, too!

why should you want to have a more energy efficient home?

• it saves you money in the long run
• it increases the value of your home
• you're doing your part for the world!

now that you've decided you want to make your home greener (because i'm sure you have), here are some easy and simple steps you can take to reduce your electricity bill. while most of these will apply only to homeowners, others can be used by renters as well.

1. Look for EnergyStar certified appliances and lighting.

The typical household spends $1,900 a year on energy bills. With EnergyStar, you can save up to 30% or more than $600 per year.

check out this energy bill pie chart made by EnergyStar. it shows what percentage of each category (ie: electronics, heating & cooling, lighting, etc.) accounts for the average annual energy bill.

2. Reep the benefits of Federal Tax Credits for energy efficient products.

as far as i know, this only applies to those who actually own their property and are able to make structural changes to their home.

keep the receipts of everything you buy that may qualify for the energy efficiency tax credits. you will need to fill out IRS Form 5695 and submit it with your taxes. you will also need the Manufacturer's Certification Statement just in case. it's a signed statement from the manufacturer saying that the product or material qualifies for the tax credit.

also note that not all EnergyStar products are eligible for the tax credit. for a complete list of products that qualify, click here.

3. Inform yourself and fill out a 5-minute energy saving recommendation(s) audit from EnergyStar.

this small form, called the EnergyStar Home Energy Yardstick, just requires the last 12 months of your utility bills. it can help you get some energy saving suggestions for your home.

4. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees F.

most of your daily household needs will not require anything hotter.

5. Replace the light bulbs that you use the most in your home with CFL bulbs.

CFLs use about 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than regular incandescent light bulbs. just make sure to place them in rooms where lighting is on for more than ~15 minutes. otherwise, turning them on and off will significantly shorten their lives. replacing your lighting with EnergyStar certified bulbs can save you more than $65 a year in energy costs.

when deciding on which CFL wattage to get, consult this chart:


please keep in mind CFLs contain a small amount of mercury in them and therefore should be disposed of properly. if one happens to break in your home, follow these EPA clean up guidelines to keep you and your family safe!

6. Install an EnergyStar certified programmable thermostat.

being able to program your heating and cooling when you're not home or are sleeping can save you a bundle. when used properly, a thermostat can save you up to $150 a year.

7. Use window blinds to block sunlight in rooms that are too hot and long, full curtains to prevent a draft in rooms that are too cold.

8. Unplug electrical equipment that's not in use. (ie: Cell phone chargers, video game consoles, etc.)

these things, even though they appear to be off, may still use a lot of energy while in standby mode. prevent this by unplugging them or switching off the surge protector that powers them.

9. Maximize the use of natural lighting in your home.

about 10% of our annual energy bill is used on lighting. use neutral colors for your window coverings to allow more sunlight in. it's free, and on days when it's in abundance, can be just as good as artificial light.

10. Take showers instead of baths.

baths take about 5 more gallons of water than showers. a new showerhead will also save you energy compared to the typical bath or the old fashioned showerhead. this can save you up to $145 each year, depending on how long your showers are, i would think. :P

11. Wash your laundry in cold water.

using cold water instead of hot water can save the average household more than $400 annually, especially if cold water laundry detergents are used.

12. If your computer has a "standby" or "sleep" mode, schedule it to turn on when you're not using the computer.

most computers, such as the entire Apple line, allow you to set sleep mode to come on after a certain amount of minutes that you designate. it uses significantly less energy and still allows you easy access to your computer. and, if it just doesn't get any better, all Macs are EnergyStar certified!

to learn how to do this, visit the Apple website. for Windows XP power management, check out the Microsoft website.

if you'd like to get mathematical about your home energy consumption, here is a list of formulas for estimating energy consumption and typical wattages for various appliances. for specific products, most appliances or electrical products will have a technical specifications page online that usually tells you their typical wattage. try visiting the manufacturer's website or the site of the place you bought it from.

well, i hope my compilation helps you in some way. let's try to be courteous to mother nature, too!! she's our only home. :-)

[via Energystar.gov, eere.energy.gov.]