Issues > July/August 2002 (#91) > Wallet-Friendly Appliances

Wallet-Friendly Appliances

by Sofia Perez
 

The average American homeowner spends over $1,200 per year to power appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, but the environmental costs, in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and excessive water use, can be even greater. Last year's power shortages in California, coupled with this year's drought, remind us that we cannot take these resources for granted.

There are simple ways to save energy, such as insulating your water heater and regularly cleaning refrigerator coils and air conditioner filters. If your appliances are more than 10 years old, though, consider replacing them. When buying new ones, think about their life-cycle cost, not just their sticker price. According to Jennifer Thorne, a research associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, "Most energy-efficient appliances on the market today will pay for themselves in energy savings over the life of the product." Read and compare information on the yellow ENERGY GUIDE labels, and look for the EPA's "Energy Star" mark as an indicator of a product's efficiency. If every American household switched to energy-saving appliances today, we'd reduce CO2 emissions from power plants by over 175 million tons in one year. Best of all, remember that energy conservation is a win-win proposition - it's good for the Earth AND your wallet.

The chart below shows how much money and waste an efficient appliance can save over conventional models. For many more listings, see our product reports at www.thegreenguide.com.

Label it: Energy Star and EnergyGuide

You can save a bundle on future power bills by checking energy labels before you select a new electric appliance.

Each appliance must display a yellow ENERGY GUIDE label, with a line scale in the center showing how that particular model rates in energy use (usually in kilowatt-hours per year) compared with similar models. The estimated annual operating cost is listed below. One exception: air conditioners are rated against those deemed "most efficient."

Energy Star labels, by contrast, are only rewarded to models that consume 10-50% less energy than minimum federal efficiency standards. To learn which models rate the Energy Star, call 1-800-STAR-YES, or see www.energystar.gov.

Brand/Model Price (approx.) Annual Energy Use and Cost* Annual Energy Cost Savings** Annual CO2 Emissions Savings*** Energy-Saving Tips
Air Conditioner          
Friedrich QSTAR SQ06 10B (Room A/C, 6200 But/hr) $430 285 KWh (for 750 hrs use/$24 $47 773 lbs. Set the thermostat to 78 deg. F - ea. deg. raised saves 3-5% on cooling costs. Turn unit off when out.
           
Refridgerator          
Maytag MTB 1956GE (18.5 cu.ft. top freezer) $820 440 kWh/$36 $40 637 lbs Make sure the door has tight seal. Keep temp at 36-40 deg F inside fridge, and 0-5 deg F in freezer. Clean coils.
           
Dishwasher          
Asko D1706 $760 448 kWh (for 322 loads)/$37 $34 552 lbs. Use the "light wash" or "energy saving" settings and, when possible, choose air over heat drying.
           
Washing Machine          
Kenmore 42042 (3.1 cu.ft., front-loader) $800 196 kWh (for 392 loads)/$5-$16 Up to $82 1,140 lbs. Wash in warm or cold water as possible, and use cold for rinses. Load to capacity or adjust the water level for smaller loads.
           
Water Heater          
Bradford White M-4-403T (Gas. 40-gal. Tank) $335 234 therms/ $140 $250 3958 lbs. (compared w/an electric) Lower thermostats to 120 deg F to save energy and reduce scalding. Insulate hot water pipes closest to tank.

Notes:
* Based on 2001 U.S. Gov. nat.l avg. of 8.29cents per kWh of electricity.
** Amounts saved if replacing a 1990 model, based on Asso. For Home Appliances Manufacturers
average energy use figures for appliances made that year.
*** CO2 emissions calculated using USDOE 1999 average of 1.34 lbs/kWh

Resources:

Visit www.thegreenguide.com for Product Reports on various appliances.

For additional information: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 202-429-8873, www.aceee.org; Energy Star, 888-STAR-YES, www.energystar.gov; Rocky Mountain Institute, 970-927-3851, www.rmi.org; Consumer Reports, www.consumerreports.org.

Filed under: Home and Garden, Appliances, Energy efficiency

Green Guide 91 | July/August 2002 | Budget-Minded