Appliances
Posted on 28. Apr, 2010 by Anna in Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficient Homes, General Articles
Did you know that about 20% of the average electricity bill is due to energy consumed by the appliances inside your home? The most commonly-used household appliances include items such as refrigerators, clothes washers and dryers, plus many others.
If you’re in the market for a new appliance for your home, you should take into consideration both of the two figures given on the price tag of each appliance. The first gives you the price of the unit itself. But what you’ll pay in relation to the appliance doesn’t end there. The second figure tells what the operational cost of the appliance would be as it’s being used in your home. The latter amount is what would be paid each month as part of your monthly utility bill. It should last for about ten years or more, depending on the durability of the appliance. More often than not, the lifespan of some common home appliances are as follows.
- Clothes washers: up to 11 years
- Refrigerators: up to 14 years
- Dish washers: up to 10 years
- Air conditioners: up to 9 years
Before purchasing any kind of home appliance, make sure you see the Energy Star logo. Usually, appliances bearing the Energy Star label exceed minimum energy-saving standards, which is more than can be said of other models on the market.
The federal government requires all appliance manufacturers to display an Energy Guide tag on their units, which is usually black and yellow. This label may not tell you exactly how efficient it will be, but at least you’ll have an idea of how much it would cost to operate the appliance. Moreover, the Energy Guide tag also lets you know approximately how much energy the appliance consumes. Having these details, you’ll be able to calculate the amount to allow for on your monthly utility bill.
Before going shopping at your local appliance store, you may want to first visit the website of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. They have the most comprehensive list of appliances that save you money and consume less energy. Those who are interested can visit their website at www.aceee.org. Knowing what various energy-efficient appliances there are before heading to the appliance store will help you choose the right model for your home. Additionally, it’s also good to be able to find out details about an appliance, without having to rely on a salesperson who might just want to make a quick sale, including information about energy consumption and how you can keep your bill payments low.