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Major Appliances for the Kitchen and Laundry
Table Of Contents
Introduction
A great time to consider the environmental impact of your purchasing decisions is when you go to buy a big ticket item: a major appliance, such as a clothes washer, dish washer, clothes dryer, or refrigerator. This is because these products use a lot of energy, and there is a big range in the efficiency of the available manufacturers and models.
Three reasons to consider energy efficiency when making a purchase:
- Although you will probably pay more up-front for an energy efficient model, savings on your utilities or fuel bills over the product's lifetime will more than cover the additional cost.
- Most energy consumed in the United States comes from fossil fuel sources. Fossil fuel use contributes to air and water pollution and acid rain and has been linked to global warming.
- Dependence on oil imports contributes $60 billion to the United States trade deficit.
Increasing the efficiency of household appliances can significantly reduce energy consumption. The energy costs of running an appliance can equal many times the original purchase price. A refrigerator and freezer consume on average 1/6 of a home's electricity usage.
Things to keep in mind when purchasing a major appliance:
- Bottom-mount freezers are the most efficient, while side-by-side models are the worst.
- Front loading clothes washers use less water and detergent and up to 50% less energy than top loading models. They might even clean better. You can expect to see a pay back on their higher price tag in 3-9 years.
- Moisture sensors on clothes dryers are a nice feature which save money and prevent excessive wear on your clothes.
- The most cost-effective and energy efficient clothes dryer is a line in your back yard. Also takes advantage of the sun's natural whitening abilities.
Questions? Please see our page of Frequently Asked Questions about Appliances.
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Primary Links
URL: http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/mostenef.htm
A comprehensive list of energy efficiency ratings for major appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, and clothes washers. Also includes air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, gas boilers, and water heaters.
URL: http://www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/appliances/refrig-freezers/refrig-freezers.html
Produced by the California Energy Commission, this database contains exhaustive lists of appliances which exceed California and Florida appliance efficiency standards. It is arranged by model type and is updated monthly.
URL: http://www.energystar.gov/products/
List of appliances, consumer electronics, windows, heating systems and other products which have qualified for the EPA's EnergyStar certificate of energy efficiency. For refrigerators, you can search by brand, type, or size. Though it doesn't include as many different types of products as the California Energy Commission site, its lower efficiency standards means it lists more models. The site also includes store locators, a calculator to determine cost savings, and informative descriptions comparing energy use rates of different product designs.
URL: http://www.pge.com/customer_services/residential/appliance/
This site is produced by the utility company Pacific Gas & Electric. It provides useful tips for how to purchase and use energy efficient appliances in the kitchen and laundry, including some dollar figures showing cost savings. Other handy features include a guide for reading energy labels and a list showing average life expectancy for several major appliances. This site is clear and concise but doesn't offer any specific brand ratings.
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For More Information
Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings: All New Listings of the Most Efficient Products You Can Buy. By Alex Wilson and Jim Morrill. Washington: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, 1998.
Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists. By Michael Brower and Warren Leon. New York: Random House, 1999.
"The reasons why some choices matter a lot and some hardly at all."
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Organizations
URL: http://www.aceee.org
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20036 USA
Phone (202) 429-8873
A non-profit "dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means to promote economic prosperity and environmental protection." Also publishes guides for consumers.
Consumer Research Council
1424 16th ST, NW, Suite 604, Washington, D.C. 20036 USA
Phone (202) 387-6121
Provides consumer guides to energy efficient products for the home.
URL: http://www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/
P.O. Box 3048, Merrifield, VA 22116-0121 USA
Phone (800) DOE-EREC
Free assistance on questions about energy efficiency and related technologies.
URL: http://www.energystar.gov
401 M ST, SW, Washington, D. C. 20460 USA
Phone (888) StarYes
In depth information on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
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