Using Energy Star Appliances to Reduce your Electricity Bill
I wouldn’t necessarily toss out a perfectly good refrigerator, freezer or dishwasher to save a few dollars each month on electricity, but if your appliances are getting older and ready to replace then Energy Star is the way to go.
Energy Star is a government program managed by the Department of Energy (see EnergyStar.Gov) that certifies appliances and even homes to a higher standard. An Energy Star appliance needs to be more efficient than other models. Each appliance standard is slightly different, but refrigerators for instances need to be at least15% more efficient than government standards and Freezers must be 10% more efficient to earn the rating.
According to their literature, by selecting all Energy Star appliances an average home would save $80 per year. However, you could save even more if have a larger family and use appliances like dishwashers and washing machines more frequently than the average home.
Make sure to examine the yellow EnergyGuide labels on the appliances when shopping. Even among the Energy Star rated models you can find considerable differences. Manufacturers are required to display these labels on many appliances. It shows an estimate of how much energy the appliance uses, compares energy use of similar products, and lists approximate annual operating costs. It pays to consider the total operating cost of appliances before buying.
When you get you new appliances home there are still a number of ways you can get the most efficiency from them.
With refrigerators and freezers be sure to:
• Keep your refrigerator away from any sources of heat such as other appliances or direct sunlight.
• Give the condenser coils (at the back) plenty of space for air to circulate.
• Periodically check that the door seals are tight.
• Set the temperatures at 35-38 degrees for the refrigerator and 0 degrees for the freezer.
• Always consider what you want to remove from the refrigerator or freezer before opening the door. Don’t stand with the door open for long periods.
For a clothes dryer you can:
• Use the moisture sensor option to automatically shut off the machine when the clothes are dry.
• Use a high spin speed or extended spin on your washing machine to reduce the work for dryer.
• Air dry clothes as often as possible
With Dish Washers:
• Always run a full load. The same amount of energy is used regardless of how full it is.
• Avoid the heat-dry, rinse-hold and pre-rinse features, but always use the air-dry option.
Cheap electricity in Texas is a reseller of Texas electricity and generally concerned when it comes to excess electricity usage by providing access to cheap electricity in Texas. The Texas energy company maintains a save electricity blog which provides tips and suggestions about how to save money on your electricity bill.
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