Buy energy-efficient electronics and appliances
- Always look for the Energy saving recommended logo before you let an appliance loose in your home. Its your guarantee that it won't misbehave itself the moment it's plugged in.
- Developed by the Energy Saving Trust, in conjunction with industry and Government, the Energy saving recommended logo appears on a wide range of products including fridges, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers, light bulbs, light fittings, gas boilers and heating controls.
- for more information visit: Energy Saving Trust
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[edit] How to work out the running cost of an appliance
You can roughly work out the running costs of an appliance by multiplying the average annual kWh consumption figure given on the label by the price for a unit of electricity. In the example below, that would be 325 kWh X 7 pence (approx current cost of a unit of electricity). So 325 kWh x £0.07 = an annual running cost of around £22.75
To help combat the impact of the increasing amounts of goods being manufactured and sent to landfill, consider the following points when buying a new product:
- Assess the company's environmental performance and recycling services they offer. Companies such as Electrolux, Whirlpool, Bosch and Miele are designing products that can be easily dismantled for component reuse and recycling.
- See if the design of the product is durable, allows upgrade ability and whether it can be easily disassembled for recycling. Get the longest warranty possible.
- Be aware that if appliance parts are made out of single molded plastic or metal pieces, they are crimped together instead of being welded or bolted. This results in a lower cost of production, but means that it is more difficult and expensive to repair.
- Watch out for clusters of components. You may end up replacing a bunch of parts because they are connected to a single part that does not work.
- Consider buying a used appliance from a charitable organization.
[edit] Efficient Appliances Save Energy and Money
The major appliances in your home -- refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers -- account for a big chunk of your monthly utility bill. And if your refrigerator or washing machine is more than a decade old, you're spending a lot more on energy than you need to.
Today's major appliances don't hog energy the way older models do because they must meet minimum federal energy efficiency standards. These standards have been tightened over the years, so any new appliance you buy today has to use less energy than the model you're replacing. For instance, if you buy one of today's most energy-efficient refrigerators, it will use less than half the energy of a model that's 12 years old or older.
Of course, efficient appliances don't just save you money; they're good for the environment. The less energy we all use, the lower our demand on power plants, which means less pollution. The trick is to figure out which models use the least energy. Here are some guidelines.
Look for the Energy Star® label. Energy Star models are the most energy efficient in any product category, exceeding the energy efficiency minimums set by the federal government. If you remember only one rule when you shop, remember to look for the Energy Star label. In some parts of the country, utilities and state governments even sweeten the deal by offering rebates on Energy Star-rated models.
Use the EnergyGuide label. Some uninformed salespeople might tell you that a model you're looking at is the most efficient because it has an EnergyGuide label. Not exactly. All new appliances must carry the EnergyGuide label, either on the appliance itself or on the packaging. The label allows you to compare the typical annual energy consumption and operating cost of different models of any type of appliance you're thinking of buying.
Get the right size. Make sure the product you're buying suits your needs. Oversized air conditioners, water heaters and refrigerators waste energy and money; in many cases they also don't perform as well. Whenever possible choose appliances that run on natural gas rather than electricity. Usually it's more efficient to burn natural gas where it's needed -- in your home -- than to burn it at a power plant, convert the heat to electricity and then send the electricity over wires to your house. Look for dryers, stoves and water heaters that run on natural gas.
Think long term. Many of the most energy-efficient appliances cost more initially, but they'll save you money in the long run. Expect to keep most major appliances between 10 and 20 years. A more efficient appliance soon pays for itself; lower monthly utility bills over the lifetime of the appliance will more than offset a higher purchase price. In addition, the latest resource-efficient clothes washers and dishwashers not only save electricity, they also use a lot less water and can reduce your water bill. Below is more specific information to keep in mind if you're in the market for any of the following major appliances.
[edit] REFRIGERATORS
If you are thinking of replacing an old appliance, the refrigerator is a good place to start. New refrigerators consume 75 percent less energy than those produced in the late 1970s. A family replacing a 1980 vintage fridge with one that meets today's standards will save more than $100 a year in utility costs. Go one step further and buy an Energy Star-qualified model, and your new refrigerator will save you an additional 15 percent or more by employing better insulation, more efficient compressors and more precise temperature control and defrost mechanisms.
[edit] CLOTHES WASHERS
The energy efficiency of standard top-loading washers has doubled over the last two decades, mostly by decreasing the amount of water used. (Most of a washer's energy consumption goes to heating water.) Front-loading washers have also become more readily available. They generally use less water than top-loaders because they don't have to totally submerge clothes. Their tumbling action constantly lifts water and drops it back down onto clothing. Energy Star top-loaders, however, can be just as efficient as front loaders. Look for the EnergyGuide or Energy Star labels to compare efficiencies. Replacing a pre-1994 washer with an Energy Star model can save a family $110 a year on utility bills. Energy Star washers use 50 percent less energy than other standard models, and only 18 to 25 gallons of water for a full-sized load, compared to 40 gallons for standard full-size washers. Many Energy Star models also advertise lower fabric wear, better stain removal and briefer drying times.
[edit] DISHWASHERS
A new dishwasher is not only more efficient than older models, but it's also better at getting dishes clean. Manufacturers no longer recommend that you pre-wash your dishes. Simply scrape the remaining food off your plates and place them in the machine as is. This will save you time and save money on your water bill. The most efficient dishwashers use less hot water, have energy-efficient motors and use sensors to determine the length of the wash cycle and the water temperature needed to do the job. The newest Energy Star dishwashers are 25 percent more efficient than the minimum federal standards. Replacing a pre-1994 dishwasher with an Energy Star model can save $25 a year on utility costs.
[edit] ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS
The most efficient room air conditioners have higher-efficiency compressors, fan motors and heat-transfer surfaces than previous models. A high-efficiency unit reduces energy consumption by 20 to 50 percent. Replacing a 10-year-old model with an Energy Star model can cut energy bills by an average of $14 a year.
[edit] CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONERS
If your central air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star model could reduce your energy consumption for cooling by 20 percent.
[edit] WATER HEATERS
Water heating is typically the third largest energy expense in your home, accounting for about 14 percent of your energy bill. An old water heater can operate for years at very low efficiency before it finally fails. If your gas water heater is more than 10 years old, it probably operates at less than 50 percent efficiency.
[edit] HOME ELECTRONICS
For most products, the Energy Star label is your assurance that the product will operate more efficiently than a standard model. But Energy Star TVs, audio equipment, telephones, computers and printers earn the label primarily because they draw only a small amount of power when not in use -- regardless of the amount of power they consume when operating. When buying electronics, do look for the Energy Star label, but also keep a few general caveats in mind.
[edit] Which Energy Sources are Ethical? Which are Not?
Every year we pour hundreds of thousands of pounds of mercury into the air, oceans, lakes, and rivers which pollutes the water and ruins the fish we eat. Coral reefs are dying. The fish we eat from these waters may be hazardous to our health because of the pollution we put into the water. Mercury is known to cause brain damage especially in children! Every year we pour millions of pounds of poison into the air polluting the air we breathe which affects our health. Every year billions of pounds of pesticides are poured into our ground contaminating water and ending up in the food we eat. Every year millions of acres of beautiful forests and jungles are cut down for agricultural purposes. We are ruining the beauty that God created and destroying our ability to remove carbon from the air. Each year we pour billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Some scientists would bet their life that humans are causing global warming and possibly setting triggers for catastrophic events.
[edit] Unethical Energy Sources
[edit] Ethical Energy Sources
[edit] Make your house energy efficient with insulation
Save up to 20% of the energy you use to heat and cool your house. Seal up holes to the outside by weatherstripping doors and sealing windows. Adding insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces provides tremendous energy savings. Efficient windows can lower the energy used for heating and cooling by up to 30%. If your home has only single pane windows, consider replacing them with energy efficient windows. For people who live in mobile homes siding skirts insulate against winds in the winter and heat in the summer. The air conditioning ducts are often under the home so the skirts will also help to insulate the ducts.
[edit] Energy efficient lighting
Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight. Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and counter-tops under cabinets. Use dimmers, motion sensors, or occupancy sensors to automatically turn on or off lighting as needed and prevent energy waste. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs to save about 50% on your lighting costs. CFLs use only one-fourth the energy and last up to 10 times longer. Turn your lights off when you leave a room. Standard, incandescent light bulbs should be turned off whenever they are not needed. Fluorescent lights should be turned off whenever you'll be away for 15 minutes or more. During winter, open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home and close them at night to help keep the heat in.
[edit] Phantom/Standby Energy Use by Home Electronics and Appliances
The average American home is brimming with consumer electronics and appliances (e.g. televisions, DVD players, stereos, kitchen gadgets, etc.). These products amount to 15% of the home’s utility usage. What you may not realize is that these modern conveniences can cost you a lot of money on your power bill even when they are still plugged in, but turned off.
Products with clock displays, remote controls, and other features draw power 24 hours per day. Another way to figure out if your appliance is drawing power is to touch the plug (transformer). If it is warm to the touch, it is drawing power. Although an individual product draws little standby power by itself (a few watts up to 40 watts), a typical American home has about 40 products continuously drawing power. This consumption is called “phantom,” "vampire," "leaking energy," or "standby" energy use. This combined phantom energy use can account for about 10% of your power bill.
Since altering the energy requirements of existing appliances and electronics is not possible, using them mindfully, or replacing them with energy efficient models, will significantly reduce the amount of energy they require.
Here are several ways to reduce the energy consumption of existing appliances:
- Use a high quality power strip as a central power supply for clusters of computer, video (TV, DVD, video games, etc.), or audio products (receivers, amplifiers, etc.), so everything can be switched off with one action when the equipment is not in use. Do not overload a circuit with too many items plugged in, as it is dangerous. Most circuits in a home are 15 AMPs, but only use 75%, which is about 11 AMPs. Look at the amount of AMPs that each item uses. Heating products use more AMPs than the products. Contact an electrician or your local utility company if you need more information about AMPs.
- Unplug chargers for cell phones and power supplies (the black cubes that convert AC power to DC) when the equipment is fully charged or not in use.
Caution: Think before you unplug. Many rechargeable products gradually lose their charge over time. You may get frustrated if your cordless phone or cordless drill isn’t fully charged.
- Enable power management features on your computer, monitor, and other office equipment.
- Avoid using a screen saver on your computer’s monitor; allow the monitor to switch to “Sleep” mode, "Power-down" function, or turn it off when it's not in use.
When it is time to replace an appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR® logo. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Appliances and other household goods (e.g. lightbulbs) with this logo have been designed to meet strict standards for energy efficiency.
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