Energy Wise Tip: April, 2009
April 2009 EnergyWise Tip: For household energy (and $) savings, “Look for the ENERGY STAR!”
The U.S. government has a program that can help you make an EnergyWise decision when purchasing electric appliances for the home. Always look for the ENERGY STAR logo!
When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay at the store and what you pay for the energy and water it uses once you get it home. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models. The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model.
Simple actions can make a big difference. If just one in 10 homes used ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, the change would be like planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.
FOCUS: Refrigerators
In most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Looking for the ENERGY STAR could make a huge difference when considering the purchase of a new refrigerator. For example, replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for nearly four months.
Other refrigerator EnergyWise Tips:
You may also be interested to know that you can reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator or freezer uses, whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR qualified model:
- Position your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.
- To allow air to circulate around the condenser coils, leave a space between the wall or cabinets and the refrigerator or freezer and keep the coils clean.
- Make sure the door seals are airtight.
- Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open.
- Recycle older or second refrigerators – or if you have a second older inefficient refrigerator for refreshments, consider unplugging it! Ask your local public power utility for more info on a refrigerator recycling program.
For more information about the ENERGY STAR program visit: Energy Star If you are interested in knowing about additional steps you can take to conserve water and improve your energy efficiency, contact Southern Power District.
