Clean, Green and Money in Your Pocket

The following information was shared with me recently by the folks at PartSelect.com and I found the statistics very interesting especially considering the growing cost of energy in this country:

If the major appliances in your home are more than 10 years old, you’re spending more of your hard earned dollars on utility costs than you should.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies show that the average household’s utility bill is approximately $1,900 a year. The EPA also states that kitchen appliances account for a whopping 40 to 50 percent of household energy consumed.

The EPA, in partnership with the US Department of Energy, created the Energy Star labeling program that identifies household appliances that use less energy, improve air quality and reduce homeowners’ utility costs.

Energy Star labeled appliances can cost 10 to 40 percent more but when you consider that Energy Star labeled appliances consume 50 per cent less energy than standard or older models, the upfront cost is easier to bear.

Purchase new appliances with these standard features:

Refrigerator
Energy Star qualified refrigerators:
• Use at least 40 percent less electricity than models that do not qualify
• Save you up to $145 per year

Clothes Washer
Energy Star qualified clothes washers:
• Use up to 40 percent less electricity than standard models
• Save you up to $110 per year
• Use half the water of a conventional model
• Extract more water from the clothes reducing the drying time
• Reduce the amount of wear and tear on your clothes

Dishwasher
Energy Star qualified dishwashers:
• Use at least 41 percent less energy than conventional models
• Save $90 over its lifetime
• Use half the water of a non qualified model

Dehumidifier
Energy Star qualified dehumidifiers:
• Use 10 to 20 percent less energy than standard models
• Save you $30 per year

Room Air Conditioner
Energy Star qualified air conditioners:
• Use 10 percent less energy than conventional models
• Save you $250 over it’s lifetime

Follow these energy saving tips and save even more on your monthly bill:

Refrigerator
• Avoid placing the refrigerator near windows, heat ducts, vents, radiators and the stove
• Leave space between the wall and the refrigerator allowing air to circulate around the coils
• Keep the refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees and the freezer at 0 degrees

Clothes Washer
• Only wash full loads of laundry

Dishwasher
• Only run the dishwasher with a full load
• Avoid using the heat-dry, pre-rinse and rinse-hold features

Dehumidifier
• Place the unit away from walls and furniture, dirt, dust and dirty filters decrease the dehumidifiers efficiency
• Close all doors and windows while the unit is running

Room Air Conditioner
• Reduce the amount of energy consumed by using the timer for temperature control
• Choose a unit that is properly sized for the room

Invest in today’s green and energy efficient appliances that are Energy Star approved. You’ll save money on your monthly utility bill and reduce the amount of air pollution emitted into your home and the environment.

Content provided by PartSelect.com
Additional Resources:
www.energystar.gov
www.epa.gov

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