ENERGY STAR appliances cost less to operate. That means you can use 50% less water and 40% less energy to wash and dry clothes, save up to $100 each year on your refrigerator and count on cleaner dishes using less water with a certified dishwasher.
Appliances account for about 20% of your household's energy consumption with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list. When you're shopping for appliances, think of two price tags. The first one covers the purchase price-think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. You'll be paying on that second price tag every month with your utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on the appliance.
In most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. For example, a refrigerator uses almost five times the electricity the average television uses. Replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for nearly four months. When you replace your old refrigerator or freezer be sure to dispose of the old model in an environmentally conscience manner.
Most of the energy used by your dishwasher is for heating the water. The circulation pump and dryer account for the rest. Energy-efficient dishwashers reduce the amount of water used to heat water. This reduces the amount of energy used to heat the water. Energy efficient dishwashers also include air-drying options that allow you to dry the load without additional heat, saving additional energy and money.
About 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes—use less water and use cooler water. Unless you're dealing with oily stains, the warm or cold water setting on your machine will generally do a good job of cleaning your clothes. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a load's energy use in half. An ENERGY STAR washer cleans clothes using 50% less energy than standard washers. Energy efficient models also spin the clothes better, resulting in less drying time. When shopping for a new clothes dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Not only will this save energy, it will save wear and tear on your clothes caused by over-drying.
When you do have to shop for a new appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. To help you figure out whether an appliance is energy efficient, the federal government requires most appliances to display the bright yellow and black EnergyGuide label. Although these labels will not tell you which appliance is the most efficient, they will tell you the annual energy consumption and operating cost for each appliance so you can compare them yourself.
Also, many home electronics continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These "phantom" loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
Contest Home Example
Appliances account for about 20% of your household's energy consumption with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list.
In the contest winning home, the installation team replaced the existing refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, and gas range with high efficiency General Electric ENERGY STAR qualified appliances provided by GE Money.
The family had been relying on a ceiling fan to act as their gas range ventilation. An exhaust fan was also installed in the kitchen over the range to vent moisture and odors from cooking along with harmful carbon monoxide.
The homeowners commented that the gas range was there when they purchased the home 5 years ago, but all the other appliances had been purchased new since they had moved in.
Nonetheless, the homeowners were surprised to learn how much more efficient today’s ENERGY STAR appliances are. For example, by reviewing the usage data on the ENERGY STAR label on the new refrigerator the homeowners calculated that their new refrigerator uses half the energy of their 5-year-old one.
They also notice how much brighter the gas flame is in their new stove and how much quicker they can prepare their meals with better temperature control. According to the homeowners, the new clothes dryer seems to run about ½ the time as the previous one, on the sensor setting.
How To Do Your Own Home Energy Makeover
The Anaheim energy makeover contest-winning home demonstrates how homeowners can significantly reduce their energy costs and improve home comfort and safety. You can do your own home energy makeover by participating in Anaheim Public Utilities’ Home Investment Package (HIP) Program. The HIP program bundles various rebate offers into a one-stop shop designed to make homeowners sit up and take notice of the more than $15,000 in savings they can realize through the program. These savings include a waiver of permit fees for energy-efficient improvements that can cost up to $1,000, and up to $14,000 in incentives. Plus, special low-cost financing is provided by the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA).
Click Here to learn more about the Anaheim Home Investment Package (HIP) program.
About The Contest
The Home Investment Package (HIP) Home Energy Makeover Contest was sponsored by Anaheim Public Utilities and the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) to demonstrate how homeowners can significantly reduce their energy costs and improve home comfort and safety. More than 500 Anaheim residents entered the contest, and twenty finalists were selected through an application screening process that identified those homes with the greatest potential to demonstrate energy savings. Contest sponsors donated the products and services featured.
For more than 100 years, Anaheim Public Utilities has served Anaheim water and electric customers with low rates and reliable service. Anaheim Public Utilities is Orange County's only publicly owned water and electric utility. The Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions through a nationwide network of contractors, distributors, manufacturers and utility companies.
To view a series of these fact sheets on other aspects of the Home Energy Makeover, go to
www.egia.org/anaheim.