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Energy Efficiency


When to pull the plug Saying goodbye to an old friend—like that


microwave from your first apartment—can be daunting, but pulling the plug on an outdated refrigerator or dishwasher might save you money. New appliances are often considerably more energy-efficient, especially if you purchase brands displaying the ENERGY STAR-certified logo. A new refrigerator consumes 75


percent less energy than a 1970s model. Replace a vintage clothes washer and save $60 on utility bills and nearly 5,000 gallons of water a year, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Not every new appliance is a good bet; always look for the ENERGY STAR label. It signals models meeting the energy-efficiency standards of the EPA. Ready to save? Walk through your home to find opportunities to pull the plug!


Clean Up in the Kitchen & Laundry Room Replace your kitchen’s classic refrigerator with an


ENERGY STAR-certified model to save between $200 and $1,100 in lifetime energy costs. Today’s average refrigerator uses less energy than a continually lit 60-watt light bulb. Resist the urge to move the old refrigerator to the basement or the garage. Instead, say goodbye and recycle the energy- guzzler. Was your dishwasher built before 1994?


If so, you’re paying an extra $40 a year on your utility bills compared to neighbors with an ENERGY STAR-qualified model. In the laundry room, a full-sized ENERGY


STAR-certified clothes washer uses 15 gallons of water per load, compared to the 23 gallons used by a standard machine. During the machine’s lifetime, this saves 27,000 gallons of water.


Luann Dart


Screen Savings Televisions might be a little more baffling. As


screen sizes increase, energy consumption may also rise. You can still be a savvy shopper. ENERGY STAR- certified TVs are about 25 percent more efficient than conventional models and LED screens use 20 percent less energy than LCD TVs. Once you purchase a TV, calibrate it by adjusting


the contrast and brightness to a moderate level. By default, new televisions are set to dynamic, high- contrast settings. Tis consumes more power than standard, lower-contrast settings.


Smart Settings Attached to old appliances? You can still save with


smart settings. For example, heating water creates the greatest expense when washing dishes or clothes. Set your water heater at 120 degrees and be sure your clothes washer or dishwasher is full whenever used.


For other tips on how to save energy, visit the


OEC's energy audit page at www.bit.ly/oecenergyaudit. and keep an eye out for PEAK, our new energy efficiency mascot. Peak is already ready to give good tips.


In the laundry room, wash your clothes in cold water using cold- water detergents whenever possible. Adjust load settings for smaller loads or only wash full loads.


Sources: Energy Star, Consumer Electronics Association, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, U.S. Department of Energy, and Natural


Resources Defense Council. Luann Dart writes on energy efficiency issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.


12 March 2014


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