Which Household Appliances are the Least Energy Efficient?
When attempting to save energy and improve the environment, its a good idea to look at the types of appliances that are in your home. Gas and electric appliances, along with heating and cooling systems, use the largest part of energy in nearly every home.
One appliance that is notorious for using a lot of energy is the refrigerator. Most refrigerators run nearly constantly. If you have a household that has more then one or two family members, it’s also one that gets opened and closed quite often, which in turn, makes it run even more! Older refrigerators tend to use much more energy then the newer types that have been designed in recent years. If at all possible, try to purchase the latest, most energy saving model available. Not only will it cut down on your electric bill, but you’ll be using a greener type of appliance that can help the environment.
Another high energy using appliance is a clothes dryer. It uses no energy at all to hang the clothes outside on a clothesline to dry, but that’s not always a feasible plan. If it is impossible for you to dry your laundry outdoors, the best way to save energy with a clothes dryer is to be careful that it isn’t overfilled, which can cause you to have to run it two or three times to get a large load dry. By cutting down on the amount of heavy clothes you put in for a cycle, they will dry more quickly and use less energy.
The next energy guzzler in most home’s is the central air conditioning and heating unit. It is wise to have it checked for leaks in the ventilation system at least once a year, so the unit doesn’t have to run as hard. Cooling and heating the great outdoors can become quite expensive.
Simple Ways to Save Energy
One way to save energy is to walk to as many destinations as possible. Although this isn’t always a feasible option, especially if you live in a very cold winter climate, even a few trips by foot can help. Another great way to get around that doesn’t use gas or oil is to use a bicycle. Not only is bicycling a very healthy way to exercise, but it’s clean and green. It is a cheap form of transportation, since you don’t have to make frequent stops at the gas station to refill your tank. If walking or bicycling isn’t an option, you can always participate in car pooling or using a local bus system.
Saving energy inside your home can be done even on a fixed income or small budget. Although you may not be able to afford the latest energy saving appliances, you can do small things to the house such as caulking leaky windows and making sure the doors have weather stripping to prevent air from entering from the outside, or air from the inside going out. Extra insulation is always a big help when trying to conserve energy also. If you are a do-it-yourself type, you can install the insulation yourself and it’s not overly expensive. Using heavy drapes in the winter can cut down on energy use, as they will help block out cold drafts. Using cold water to do your laundry is a great way to save energy, and it is proven that cold water works as well on almost all fabrics as using hot water.
Top 5 Ways to Make Your Home Green
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Most people want to “Go Green”. There are things that you can do in your home to get you started. These are very simple ideas to follow, but keep in mind, each task is meant to lower your electric bill. Not only are you saving money, your saving the environment.
1. Plant a large tree in a place where the shade from it will cover the part of your home where the sun beats down in the afternoon. The shade lowers the indoor temperature keeping your air conditioner from working overtime. You can plant more than one tree, just make sure there is plenty of room for the roots to grow allowing the trees to flourish.
2. The air conditioning system in your home uses more energy than any other large appliance in your home. Find a reputable professional to come clean your unit. The cost is approximately $100, so it is budget friendly. Be sure to change the filter in your air conditioner once a month for more efficient use of energy. By maintaining the air conditioner annually, it will last for many years.
3. Think about how many times you have walked out of a room and left the lights on. This can be costly. Turn the lights off when exiting a room. You can save approximately $100 a year by changing to compact fluorescent bulbs. The amount saved is estimated on replacing five or six bulbs. Just imagine what the savings would be if you replace all your light bulbs.
4. The next time you are in the market for a new kitchen or laundry appliance, take a good look at the appliances that have the energy star label on them. This label means that it helps the environment and saves energy. Energy saving products are no more expensive than the others.
5. Keep your thermostat set at 78 degrees in the summer and 65 degrees in the winter. Depending on your climate, you may have to adjust the temperature, but remember, for each degree you program the unit, up or down, it affects your savings.