Looking For a New Energy Efficient Appliance?

Posted on March 19, 2008
Tag(s): Kitchens And Baths, Green Furnishings, Money Saving, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions / Global Warming | | Email this

If you’re still looking at an avocado-colored refrigerator, you’re paying too much for your electricity bill. Those old green appliances aren’t very “green”. Even appliances that are only 10 years old are using far more power than today’s least energy-efficient models. I suppose it’s not a problem if you receive your electricity from solar or wind power though. Otherwise your carbon footprint (the amount of global-warming greenhouse gases emitted from your daily life) is larger than it needs to be.

When shopping for new appliances, you’ll notice the yellow and black Energy Guide labels on all major household appliances except for ranges, ovens, and microwaves. That label will display the estimated annual energy usage and operating cost for that particular product.

In addition, with the advent of the Energy Star program created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, you can find appliances that will save you even more money over the long run. Look for the blue and white Energy Star logo which tells you that appliance exceeds federal efficiency standards by 10 to 40 percent.

Now if you’re in the market for a new range, cooktop or microwave, here are some tips to help you find the most energy efficient models:

Opt for a glass-fronted oven, allowing you to check on food’s progress without opening the door and wasting heat energy.
Self-cleaning ovens have more insulation and therefore are more energy efficient.
Gas ranges and ovens are slightly more efficient than electric models.
If purchasing a gas oven or range, choose one with an electric or pilotless ignition system rather than a pilot light that burns constantly.
If purchasing an electric range or cooktop, look for burners that use halogen elements under glass rather than traditional coil elements or solid disk elements.
Induction cooktops use less energy than both traditional electric cooktops and gas cooktops.
Consider an Energy Star-qualified range hood.

You also can save energy through better usage, by:

Using the self-cleaning feature infrequently and only directly after using the oven.
Keeping the igniter on gas stoves clean.
Using pressure cookers, microwave ovens or toaster ovens instead of standard-size ovens and cooktops when possible.
Covering pots and pans to boil water faster.
Matching the size of pots and pans to the burner.

Source: Kitchens.com