Generating the electricity needed to run just your refrigerator puts a ton of greenhouse gas into the air every year. When the time comes to replace an appliance, you can reduce your damage to the environment by upgrading to the most efficient models. Here`s how:
– Refrigerators. Old refrigerators burn as much as $150 of electricity a year. Newer, more efficient models use as little as $30 to $50 a year. Refrigerators with the freezer on top are more efficient than side-by-side models.
– Dishwashers. New dishwashers come with the option of using fan-blown room air to dry dishes. Also, water temperature boosters that heat incoming water to 140 degrees allow you to keep your regular water heater set at 120 degrees. Other features to shop for are variable wash cycles and programmable wash settings that turn on automatically during off-peak hours.
– Washing machines. Front-load washing machines use one-third less water than top-load models.
– Dryers. The most advanced models of clothes dryers have moisture meters that stop the machine when the clothes are sufficiently dry.
– Cooking. Convection ovens that use a fan to blow heat over the food are a third more efficient than conventional ovens. Microwave ovens can be as much as two-thirds more efficient than conventional ovens, especially when heating small portions. Most new ranges have electric ignition rather than a constantly burning pilot light.
– Furnaces. In all but the warmest climates, the furnace is the largest consumer of energy in the home. Old furnaces often convert only 50 to 60 percent of their gas into useful heat. The new models get efficiencies of 90 percent or better.
The yellow Energy Guide labels posted on all new appliances show, in dollars, how much energy an appliance will use in a year.
