Energy Saving Tips for the Home
(ARA) - Looking for ways to save money? According to The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), a good place to start is in the kitchen. Replacing older, inefficient appliances with more modern appliances is a leading way for consumers to reap tremendous energy savings.
That’s great advice considering the fact that the amount of energy consumed by home appliances has dropped sharply since 2000. Refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers combined account for a 43 percent decrease in energy consumption since 2000, and decreasing energy consumption in turn drops cost.
Replacing an 8- year-old refrigerator, dishwasher and clothes washer with new appliances of average efficiency will save consumers about $95 per year in energy bills. Replacing an 8- year-old clothes washer will save more than $60 in electricity costs and nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year.
Consumers can attain additional savings by purchasing Energy Star designated appliances. Here are some more energy savings tips:
* If you are replacing your refrigerator, do not use the old refrigerator as a second refrigerator. This will not yield energy savings. Properly recycle the appliance. To find recycling options in your area, call (800) YES-1-CAN.
* Allow hot foods to cool before placing them in the refrigerator; and always cover foods that may release moisture in the refrigerator.
* Limit opening the refrigerator and freezer doors. Label foods or use clear food storage bags to easily identify foods.
* Scrape, but do not pre-rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Dishwashers do a great job of cleaning soiled dishes.
* Take advantage of your dishwasher’s “eco” option that reduces water use, or use a no-heat air dry feature.
* Use load size settings on your washing machine. If you are washing a small load of clothing, be sure to change the load setting; and use cold water settings whenever possible.
* Don’t over-dry clothes. This causes shrinkage, generates static electricity, and shortens fabric life. If your dryer has a setting for auto-dry, use it instead of a timer to avoid wasting energy.
* Always clean the lint filter on the clothes dryer after each use. A clogged filter will reduce dryer performance.
For more information on energy savings and to purchase AHAM’s historical Energy Efficiency and Consumption Trends, log on to http://www.aham.org.
