Major appliances in our household like the refrigerator, washing machine, dishwashers, etc., are a few of the main culprits why we have so much to pay for our energy bills while our heating and cooling systems do mostly 50%. This is even higher if your major appliances are already a decade old. Nowadays, thanks to our progressing technology, new models of these major appliances take less energy, reducing our energy bills significantly.
Not only that, but the government has tightened its grip on their federal energy efficiency standards, which helps require manufacturers to make their appliances as energy-efficient as possible. This is why new models are always more energy efficient than the previous ones. In fact, the newest model will always be using half of the energy consumption of the latest model that was released at least ten years ago.
And of course, these energy-efficient appliances help us reduce our energy bills and help with the environment as well. The less energy you use, the lower the demand for energy from power plants will be, which leads to lesser pollution.
With all that said, how are we supposed to pick a good appliance?
Choose the Right Size
For HVAC appliances, getting the right size is the most important thing. Energy states that getting an air conditioner that is too small is less efficient because it will have to remain on for a longer time. But if you opt for a big one, it’s less energy-efficient because it will have to cycle on and off more frequently.
What size should you choose for your air conditioner? An HVAC’s performance is usually measured in BTU, which stands for British Thermal Unit.
Let’s say you have a home with a size of 2000-2500 square feet. With that size, you should buy an HVAC system with 34000 BTUs per hour, while a small dwelling with 1000-12000 requires a unit with 21000-24000 BTUs per hour.
This concept should also be applied to other appliances. When it comes to washing machines, when you are constantly washing a full load of dirty clothes, you should buy one that is the right size for your regular washing needs. In short, always opt for a size that suits your needs.
Look for an Energy Star Label
Of course, as we all know, appliances with an Energy Star label are the most efficient in terms of energy consumption. But what does an Energy Star label mean? That means that an appliance exceeds the minimum energy-efficiency standard set by the federal government.
Not only that, but in some parts of the country, the federal government also offers rebates when buying appliances with an Energy Star label. You can check on the internet if your state offers them.
Additionally, when you buy an appliance, especially one with an Energy Star label, they come with an EnergyGuide label either on the appliance itself or on the packaging. This label shows a chart where you can compare the average annual energy consumption and the different operating costs of different models of the appliance you’re buying.
Think Long Term
Of course, no one would buy an appliance that will only last for a couple of years. When buying a new appliance, always expect it to last a decade or so. This is even more important since appliances with Energy Star labels are mostly more costly than their counterparts with no labels.
And of course, since it’s more costly than your average appliance, you should expect it to last long as well. But if you’re apprehensive about buying a costly appliance, you shouldn’t worry about it. Why?
Think about it, with an Energy Star label, it means that the appliance is energy-efficient, which means reduced energy consumption. With that, your monthly energy bills will be much lower than before, making a return investment in the long term.
That means that those lower bills will eventually offset the high price you paid for the appliance. Not only that, but new models of washing machines and dishwashers use less water to do their job efficiently, which can also greatly reduce your water bills in the process.
Opt for a Cheaper Power Source
The operating cost for an appliance is greatly dependent on its power source, particularly heaters. In most cases, people opt for natural gases instead of electricity since it greatly reduces their energy bills.
However, installing natural gas units is costly, especially when the household has not used natural gas units before. But if you’re willing to pay for a costly installation of natural gas units, then you should go for it, especially when you want your energy bills reduced dramatically.
But if that is out of your budget, opt instead for cheaper energy suppliers, like Eligo. By visiting prices.eligoenergy.com, you’ll be able to find an electric deal that would best fit your lifestyle. This way, even though you don’t use natural gases, you’ll still be able to save more money on energy.
Final Thoughts
Energy efficiency starts at your home. That’s why you should always consider getting energy-efficient appliances for you to save money and to contribute to the environment as well. With these tips, you can greatly reduce your monthly energy bills, as well as help you invest in more energy-efficient appliances for your home.
