Old appliances are not energy-efficient.
Energy efficiency of home appliances has improved in the last ten years. In fact, the National Resources Defense Council reports that refrigerators made in the last 12 years use half the energy of their older counterparts. The federal government has encouraged the purchase of new appliances with tax incentives and rebate offers in an effort to reduce energy consumption. Some home appliances take less energy because they do not require heating elements; others, such as water heaters, are major consumers of your energy dollars.
High Energy Appliances
Heating and cooling units take the largest percentage of electrical energy. Whether you live in the north and use electricity for heating or in the south and use it for cooling, it is a major expense. Energy Star reports that heating consumes 29 percent of your electricity use and cooling takes 17 percent.
Energy Star heating and cooling appliances lower your electrical energy cost. The Energy Guide provided with appliances compares annual electricity use before you make a purchase. A water heater accounts for about 14 percent of your energy use, according to the Energy Star website. This energy user ranks third, behind only heating and cooling expenses. Using less hot water is a recommended way to save energy along with other energy-efficient appliances.
Medium Energy Appliances
A refrigerator takes more energy than most appliances in the medium range but newer models of Energy Star refrigerators have better insulation and more efficient compressors than earlier models. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy suggests that a top-mounted freezer is more efficient than a side-by-side.
A dishwasher consumes about 7 percent of its total energy use with the heat dry at the end of the cycle. Purchase a dishwasher with a no-heat drying cycle choice to save energy. New models of clothes washers and dryers take less energy than older ones but all of your medium-energy appliances combined take about as much energy as the water heater, according to the Energy Star website.
Electronics Use Little Energy
Because most of your electronics do not function on heat, all of the computers, televisions and games in your home take about 4 percent of your total energy use. Electronics that require a transformer take more energy than non-transformer electronics, reports The Natural Resources Defense Council. An ink-jet printer takes less energy than a laser and plasma screens take more power than an LCD monitor or television screen.
Save Energy
To save energy with appliances start with the high energy users to reduce consumption. Change the filter for your heating and air conditioning regularly and close gaps in the duct work. When you replace an electrical appliance, use Energy Star and the Energy Guide for help in comparison-shopping.
Consider buying a gas water heater and a gas clothes dryer. You might even consider gas logs for a fireplace to supplement your electric heating unit. Purchase the correct size appliance for your home. A full freezer is more efficient than one with open spaces. A refrigerator larger than you need takes energy to cool the empty space as well.
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