Talking About Green

According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the average home spends $1,300/year on energy utility costs. With many consumers weary of investing after the recent economic collapse, there has never been a better time to invest in the efficiency of your home. Here are three appliances to replace that could make the biggest difference for you and your home.

Getting rid of that old refrigerator in the garage could save you as much as $150 a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Appliance use comprises about 18% of a typical home’s total energy bill, with refrigerators being one of the biggest energy hogs. The EPA suggests replacing any appliances over ten years old with energy-efficient models that bear their “Energy Star” logo. These appliances use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models. According to the Energy Star site, if just one in 10 homes used energy-efficient appliances, it would be equivalent to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.

Refrigerators are not the only major energy using appliances however. Energy Star qualified clothes washers use about 37% less energy and use over 50% less water than regular washers. Many qualified clothes washers also have a greater capacity than conventional models, meaning fewer loads of laundry. This is helpful for the average U.S. household, which washes about 400 loads per year. What a great way to save on water and electricity at the same time.

Speaking of water, do you have a dishwasher made before 1994? If so, you’re paying an extra $40 a year in utilities compared to owning a new Energy Star qualified model. A dishwasher built before 1994 wastes more than 10 gallons of water per cycle compared to owning a new Energy Star qualified model. Replacing one of these old dishwashers with a new model could save you enough water each week to wash 3 loads of laundry.

By investing in energy efficient appliances for your home, you are reducing your monthly and yearly utility bills as well as doing your part to lower the need for energy nationwide. All that’s left is to decide what to do with your old appliances. You could donate them to a charity, take them to a recycling center, or even stick them in a Toronto storage units if you’re in Canada. Either way, invest in efficiency. It pays off and is a great way to help make the planet a greener place every time you do your household chores.