Switch to Energy Efficient Appliances

Summary: Save the planet and your wallet with energy efficient appliances.

Description

Is it time to get rid of the old dryer, freezer, ceiling fan, computer, television, or air conditioner? Replace it with a more energy-efficient one. It won’t just decrease your carbon footprint, it will also save on your electricity and water bills. For example, replacing an old fridge with a new, more energy efficient refrigerator could save you more than $300 over the next 5 years!

Home appliances can be big energy hogs, responsible for about 14% of the CO2 from a typical home, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. The four primary culprits are refrigerators, washers and dryers, and electronics such as TVs and computers. By prioritizing the replacement of these items with more energy efficient models, when it’s time to do so, you can get the biggest bang for your buck.

One of your first stops while shopping around should definitely be the ENERGY STAR site. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR® are independently certified to save energy, save money and protect the climate without sacrificing features or functionality. From air-purifiers to computers to pool pumps, they’ve got the skinny on them all! There may also be rebates available from MassSave, the Massachusetts sponsored energy efficiency program, for swapping out an old model for a more energy efficient one.

Deep Dive

Here are some facts to consider about the energy use of your home appliances:

•  Refrigerators are one of the top energy users in most households because they are always on, keeping food cool and fresh. Improvements in compressors and insulation have greatly increased fridge energy efficiency so that today’s fridges use about 1/3 of the energy of that used by fridges of the 1990s. If your fridge is more than 15 years old, it’s costing you two or three times as much in electricity as a new EnergyStar fridge would cost you. While you may have a newer fridge in your kitchen, many people have older units in their garage or basement, sucking up lots of electricity to keep a few extra items cold or for periodic use. 

• Most of the energy used by clothes washers is to heat water. An ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer uses 40 to 50 percent less energy and about 55 percent less water than standard washers. When you replace your conventional washing machine with an energy efficient model, you could save up to $50 per year on utility and water bills. Today’s laundry detergents work just as well in cold water, and in some cases, hot water actually interferes with the cleaning process.  Detergents specifically for cold water washing are available.

• According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a typical electric dryer can consume as much energy per year as a new energy efficient refrigerator, washing machine, and dishwasher combined or even more. ENERGY STAR certified dryers use 20 percent less electricity than a conventional model. It could save you $210 in electric bills over the lifetime of your dryer.

• While clothes dryers may offer convenience and fluff up towels nicely, they draw a huge amount of power. The warm sun and gentle breeze await just outside your door to do the job for free. Rack-drying your clothes inside during the winter can also help to humidify your home.

• ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers are 12 percent more efficient than non-certified models, saving you electricity and  water.  Installing an energy efficient dishwasher will save you approximately $25 per year.

• Heat pump water heaters are much more energy-efficient than traditional water heaters.

• We all know and appreciate the growing role of electronics in our homes – TVs, gaming, computers, networks, etc. The trick is not to let these energy-greedy tools and toys take over our electric bills. Consider charging these items on a single power strip that can be turned off all at once to save energy.
• You can test the electrical pull of different items using tools like a Kill-a-Watt Electrical usage meter. This device is pluged into an outlet, with the ability to plug items into the outlet through the meter, to measure how much electricity is being used at that outlet.

Steps to Take

1. Consider which appliances might be in need of replacement. Then go to the ENERGY STAR website to learn about what to look for in an energy efficient appliance and search through the listing of energy efficient models.
2. Click the “Product Finder” on the ENERGY STAR website to find the features and ratings of specific models.
3. Be sure to apply for any available MassSave residential appliance rebates for your purchase.
4. Recycle your old appliance properly. Bulky items such as these are picked up on Thursdays by appointment only. You can schedule an appointment by calling Waste Management at 800-972-4545.
5. Receive your rebate in 6-8 weeks.