Do you realize that the air inside your house creates more air pollution than an automobile? This is due to the energy we consume in our homes. Much of the energy comes from power stations that burn fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels is not only responsible for pollution in the air, but contributes to acid rain, smog and global warming.
What can we do to reduce this type of pollution, even though we still require the energy needed to power our homes? The most effective solution is to make use of energy-efficient appliances and to be mindful of the way you use your appliances.
This will not only lower the carbon footprint of your home but it will also save you money. Utilizing energy-efficient home appliances could save you as much as $400 per year in utility bills.
Technology advancements have led to the development of energy efficient appliances, such as induction cooktops, as well as heat pumps for dryers, which use smaller amounts of energy in laundry facilities and kitchens.
According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy If each one of us increased the utilization of more energy-efficient items within our homes by 10 % – 30 percent, we’ll decrease the energy consumption by 25 power plants!
How can you be more efficient in your energy use? Here’s a thorough guide.
How do you choose appliances that are energy-efficient?
The majority of home appliances appear identical from the outside, but differ greatly in regards to energy efficiency and operating expenses. The more energy efficient the appliance is the lower power it will require to operate, and your budget will be less have to spend operating it.
Here are a few easy guidelines to follow when looking for appliances that are energy efficient:
- Style and size: Before you settle for a particular item take a measurement of the space that the appliance will take up to ensure that the appliance you choose will work. Make sure there’s enough space to open the lid or door completely. It is also important to ensure that there’s sufficient space to allow airflow.
- Cost of purchase and estimated energy usage: When deciding which model or brand to buy, take a look at the price and the estimated energy consumption. Most of the time, energy efficient models will cost more but they will save you money over the long term.
- Find an Energy Star logo: Appliances that bear an Energy Star logo tend to be more efficient than the typical model. We will go into greater detail on this subject below.
- Learn the Energy Guide label: It is a yellow and black label that is required by the FTC to be affixed to any new appliance (except microwaves for kitchens, ranges for kitchens, ovens or clothes dryers). The label outlines the energy consumption for the year for the device.
- Benefit from special energy-efficient deals: You can get cash rebates, loans with low interest, or other incentive programs , buying appliances that are energy efficient.
Tips to make appliances energy efficient the home
When you’re shopping for new appliances or would like to reuse your old ones there are some ways you can take to increase the efficiency of your appliances.
Fridges/Freezers
A fridge is an enormous energy consumer. Therefore, choosing and using your refrigerator with care is essential. When you purchase a fridge, opt for an energy-efficient model that has High Energy Ratings. A model like this can reduce the cost of running your fridge by as much as 23%..
Choose a refrigerator that’s neither too small or large. A refrigerator size that will generally be able to fill at least two-thirds is the best choice.
If possible, eliminate the dispenser and ice maker. They can be useful however they can increase the energy consumption of your refrigerator by 14 to 20 percent. They also increase the cost of your refrigerator.
Choose a manual defrost fridge instead of an automated one. To ensure it is more effective, make sure you maintain it correctly. Remove your freezer from the freezer only if the buildup of ice is greater that 1/4 inches.
Set your refrigerator to 4C and freezers at -18C so they will run at a high efficiency. Make sure to check your refrigerator and freezer on a regular basis to ensure that they’re set to the correct temperature.
Always ensure that you leave at least 1 inch space around your fridge and freezer to allow adequate airflow. Also, allow enough room enough for your door to open without hitting cabinets, walls, or other appliances.
Do not place your refrigerator near the dishwasher, stove, or heat vents, or place it in direct sun. Be sure that the airflow in your refrigerator is not blocked.
If you are defrosting food take it out of the fridge overnight prior to the time you intend to make use of it. This will cool the fridge down and cut power consumption.
If your fridge is equipped with an energy saver (anti-sweat) option, turn it on in summer, and switch it off during winter.
Dishwashers
Energy STAR(r) dishwashers can be one of the most energy efficient kitchen appliances. They can help save approximately 1,600 gallons of water during their life.
It’s not necessary to rinse your dishes prior to placing them into the washer. Modern dishwashers can eliminate any food debris. Make sure to run the washer only when it is fully loaded.
If you’re buying the new dishwasher, make sure you purchase the size that best suits your requirements. The larger the dishwasher, the more electricity and water it will consume.
Find a dishwasher with the “air-dry” option which uses circulation fans. This requires less power that “heat-dry” models.
Cooktops/Stove
Induction cooktops consume less energy than electric and gas cooktops. They also provide superior security without naked flames , or harmful gas fumes.
Solar ovens are among the most efficient appliances in terms of energy consumption you can make use of to cook. They do not require fuel at all to cook with.
While cooking, save energy by using the burner that matches the pot size. The heat is wasted and energy is wasted in the event that the burner is bigger than the one you’re making use of.
Make sure the oven doors are sealed tightly and keep them closed when baking. The oven loses about 20 percent of the heat that is in the oven every when you open the door.
Be sure you ensure that your pilot’s lamp as well as flame of your burner on your gas cooker are always blue. If the flame appears yellow, you will need to clean or alter the ports.
Purchase a self-cleaning oven since they are better in insulation and, therefore more efficient.
Washing machines
When you’re looking for a new washing machine, choose the latest front loaders since they use less water, can hold bigger loads, and use less energy to warm water.
Wash clothes as soon as they’re dirty enough to require washing. The majority of washing machines use forty gallons water for each load. The more you use your washer, your more water will need Therefore, you should make sure to only use it when it is absolutely necessary.
The water level and temperature settings in your washer must be in line with the size of your load. Do not fill the entire tub when you’re only washing some items.
Utilizing a warm wash and cold rinse is as efficient as hot water and warm rinse, but it will require less energy.
Do not use too much detergent as the more you use, the harder your machine will need to function, which will require more energy.
Clothes dryers
To cut down on energy consumption when washing make use of a clothesline, retractable clothesline or indoor drying racks to dry your clothes. This can also help reduce the wear on your clothes.
If you are required to make use of a dryer, choose one with an automatic stopper for the dryer after you’re dry with your clothing. Look for a dryer that comes with an ‘cool-down’ timer to conserve even more energy.
Don’t overload your dryer, as it can prolong dry time. The clothes should dry between 40 and an hour. Dry loads of laundry back to the back.
The vent for your dryer’s exhaust must always be spotless and free of dust and dust. Be sure that the moveable shutters can move effortlessly. They are designed to block the cold air, heat and insects from getting into the dryer’s vents when it is not in use.
Clean the dryer’s lint filter after every use. Lint build-up affects efficiency.
Air conditioner
When you purchase an air conditioner that is new choose a model that has energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 10.0 or more.
Set up a ceiling fan for the most spacious space in your home. After that, you can reduce the temperature of your air conditioner by 3 to 6 degrees. This will save the homeowner up to 25% of the energy cost for home cooling.
Clean the filter screen of your air conditioner at least once per month. This can reduce the use of your fan and also save you electricity.
When you turn the air conditioning on, do not select the lowest setting. The air conditioner should begin to warm up before you reduce your temperature settings. Your room should cool as quickly.
Do not leave the air conditioner running when you leave your home. If you have to, turn the temperature setting down by a couple of degrees more to around the temperature of 28 degrees C (82deg F). Switch off the air conditioner if you’re planning to leave your home for more than a single day.
Water heater
Insulate your heating system to ensure that your water stays hot and lessen the necessity to constantly reheat your water. A heater that is insulated also has less heat loss, and thus requires less energy.
Reduce the settings of your water heater to 120-140 degrees. The higher temperatures can increase energy use and decrease the tank’s lifespan.
All water pipes must be wrapped to the water heater in order to avoid losing heat.
If you are looking to purchase an all-new water heater, choose a tankless heater. These models could help you save up to 50% of expense for heating the water.
Computers and home office equipment
Are you thinking of buying a new laptop or computer? You might consider an laptop computer if it is suitable for your requirements. Laptops typically consume about 50% of the power that desktop computers consume.
If you are buying a laptop, opt for models that have 3.3-volt components (processor memory, processor, and LCD). They consume 40 to 50 percent lesser electricity over 5.0-volt laptops. They also have lighter batteries.
When you’re looking to buy an entirely new printer, think about Inkjet printers because they are very low energy usage they are affordable and also reusable paper. This helps save money and decreases the environmental impact.
If you’re looking for printing with a laser printer, opt for one that comes with an energy-saving feature. This can reduce the use of energy during idle time by up to 65 percent.
Always shut off the monitor whenever you’re not working on your computer. The majority of the energy consumed by the computer is used by the display therefore shutting it off can reduce the energy usage significantly. Beware of screen savers – the system is working at maximum power to be able to run it.
Switch off your home office equipment off when you’re not in use, aside from your the fax machine. The equipment consumes up 30 watts of power even when it’s on standby.
Printing requires significantly more energy than of the other equipment used in offices. Print only the pages you’ll need.
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Swimming pool
For owners of pools the majority of your operating expenses stem from running the pump. Therefore, when you purchase a pool pump make sure you choose one with high Energy Ratings. This will help you make sure you get an energy-efficient pump.
Energy-efficient pool pumps reduce energy bills by a significant amount. For example, if you have a seven-star pool pump, you will save approximately $1200 in power over the lifetime of the pump as compared to running a 3-star pump.
The article is related to: What can you do to Save Energy
Which are the best energy efficient appliances?
The most energy efficient appliances are those that come with an energy star symbol. The energy star logo an emblem of energy efficiency that was created through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as the U.S. Department of Energy to help consumers save money and reduce the impact of air pollution.
It is the Energy Star logo is commonly seen on a list of appliances that use less energy, including refrigerators dishwashers, air conditioners washing machines, as well as dryers.
Appliances that have The Energy Star rating is significantly more energy efficient than conventional appliances, as measured through standard testing methods.
A lot people contribute to the worldwide environmental crisis by using appliances that consume high amounts of energy in our home. Making the choice to use appliances that are energy efficient will significantly decrease pollution and help save the planet.
There isn’t a need to do anything to reduce pollution. Just buy appliances that are energy efficient when you next shop. Meanwhile, follow our suggestions for making your existing appliances more energy-efficient!
