Shopping for Your Home’s Major Appliances
Posted on 04. May, 2010 by Anna in Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficient Homes, General Articles
Here are some things you should consider when shopping for the appliances that are essential in your home. This can help you to determine the efficiency of the appliances and how to save on your utility bill each month.
Appliances Using Oil or Natural Gas Systems
Make sure the appliance has an Energy Guide label from the Federal Trade Commission. You should also look for the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, especially if you are in the market for a boiler or furnace. Additionally, you should not choose a furnace that is too big for your home. Let a professional give you an assessment so you will know what type and size to buy for your home.
Heat Pumps
Efficient heat pumps should have an Energy Guide label listing the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The HSPF will tell you the efficiency of the heat pump in the heating season, while the SEER tells you its efficiency during the cooling season.
Air Conditioners
As for central air conditioners, you should look for a model that displays the SEER information, as well as the Energy Star logo, to help get as much as 25% more efficiency than the typical air conditioning unit. On the other hand, if you are only looking for a room air conditioner, you should consider the size of the room before buying. The larger the area is, the higher the British Thermal Unit (BTU) of the air conditioner should be per hour.
Water Heaters
New types of water heaters were put on the market in January of 2009, and most of these new models bear the Energy Star logo. Also, you should read the Energy Guide label on the water heater you want to buy, and look at the FHR (the amount of energy used by the unit during the first hour of use).
Freezers and Refrigerators
When purchasing a food storage appliance, you could save up to 20% by choosing a model with the Energy Star logo. The lower the kWh is indicated to be, the lesser the energy consumption of the appliance is. Refrigerators having a freezer on top consume less energy than models with the freezer on the side. You should also inspect the door hinges to see if they are sufficient to fully seal the fridge, preventing energy loss.
