How to find green and energy efficient home appliances

August 20, 2014

Want Cheaper Energy Bills and a Greener Home? Here’s How to Buy Your Next Household Appliances If you recycle, if you watch your water consumption, if you carry your own bag to the grocery store and you minimize your purchases of plastics, you’re putting in a lot of time and energy to watch your impact on the environment. That’s why it should bother you when your appliances don’t live up to the standards you set. The problem is, many people are ignorant to just how much energy their refrigerator uses, or what kind of environmental impact their water habits might have. What are Green Appliances, and How Can You Find Them? You’d be amazed at how many people ask some variation of that question, as if the answer is complex and mysterious. The truth is, it’s actually very simple to figure out which appliances are green and which ones are merely costing you green. Before you buy your next appliances, keep the following in mind: •The EnergyStar® Label. The Natural Resource Defense Council recommends seeking this label out because the appliances that bear this label don’t just meet the minimum requirements of energy efficiency by the government, they exceed them. EnergyStar® also hands out awards for high standards and performance for specific brands. •Find the EnergyGuide Label. You know how bread comes with nutrition information on the label? Appliances actually have something similar. This label is perfect for comparing similar appliances head-to-head to see how they really stack up. Once you get used to reading these, picking the greener appliance is easy. •Think “size-appropriate.” Does a college dorm room need an industrial-sized air conditioner? Does a two-person household require a refrigerator that resembles something a butcher would use? A little common sense goes a long way when it comes to energy usage. Why are Green Appliances Important? We’re aware of the fact that a phrase like “green appliances” makes it sound like you’re seeking out low-power thingamajigs that were built out of coconuts by the Professor from “Gilligan’s Island.” But it’s not like that. In fact, if you do it right, your kitchen and household will be stealthily green—it will look like anyone else’s household, but with less energy costs and less impact on the environment. This is accomplished in two ways: •Finding low-energy usage items. Or, more accurately, you’re merely seeking out lower-energy items. It’s not that these appliances are low energy; it’s that they don’t require extra energy. According to the NRDC, a refrigerator built today will use 75% less energy than one from decades ago—but the food inside is still kept chilled. More efficiency means less energy used. Less energy used means less money spent, and less of a consumption strain on the environment. Simple as that. •Establishing conscientious consumption habits. You’re not just a customer; you’re a consumer. You’re going to use that dishwasher and that washing machine, so you’d better learn how to use it. If you scrape your plates before dishwashing, for example, and leave off the “rinse” cycle, you can save some 20 gallons per wash. That has nothing to do with the quality of the appliance and everything to do with your habits as a consumer.

More