Energy Efficiency When to pull the plug
bye to an old friend
Saying good- can
be daunting. But
pulling the plug on an outdat- ed refrigerator or dishwasher might save you
money; new appliances are often considerably more energy- efficient. 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, ac- cording to the Association of Home Appliance Manufactur- ers. Not every new appliance is a good bet; always look for the ENERGY STAR label. It signals energy-efficient models. Ready to save? Walk through your home to find op- portunities to pull the plug! In the laundry room, a full-sized ENERGY STAR-certi-
fied clothes washer uses 15 gallons of water per load, com- pared to the 23 gallons used by a standard machine. During the machine’s lifetime, this saves 27,000 gallons of water. Replace your kitchen’s classic refrigerator with an ENER-
GY 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.
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. 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. This 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 ex- pense when washing dishes or clothes. Set your water heater at 120 degrees and be sure your clothes washer or dishwasher is full whenever used.
Sources: Energy Star, Consumer Electronics Association, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Resources Defense Council
Here are a few other ways to save without buying new appliances
• NOT TOO COOL FOOD: In the kitchen, don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37 to 40 degrees for the fresh food compartment and 5 degrees for the freezer section.
• TOAST, DON’T ROAST: Use toaster ovens or microwave ovens for small meals rather than your large stovetop or oven.
• AIR DRY DISHES: Use the dishwasher’s “eco” op- tion or use a no-heat air dry feature. Scrape food pieces off the plates, rather than rinsing them.
• COLD CLOTHES: In the laundry room, wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents when- ever possible. Adjust load settings for smaller loads.
• LOSE LINT: Clean the lint screen in the dryer after every use to improve the dryer’s efficiency.
By default, new televisions are set to dynamic, high-contrast settings. This consumes more power than standard, lower-contrast settings. Calibrate your TV by adjusting the contrast and brightness to a moderate level.
For other tips on how to save energy visit
www.TogetherWeSave.com
LREC Powerline Press 3
Courtesy photo
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