Electric appliances account for nearly 20 percent of your utility bill. They fall right after the biggest energy user — heating air and water, and cooling — so replacing old appliances with energy-saving ones will help lower your bill.
When buying kitchen appliances, measure the space you want to fill or measure the appliance you’re replacing.
With measurements in hand, go online to look for a replacement. Keep in mind luxury features can reduce energy performance of some appliances, but others have been engineered for efficiency. For the best energy savings, browse EnergyStar.gov for a replacement. Once you’ve chosen some suitable models, balance cost, estimated energy savings and features, then check local retailers for the models.
Kitchen appliances bearing the Energy Star logo exceed the minimum government standard. Usually, Energy Star qualified appliances perform in the top 15 to 30 percent of their category for energy savings. For example, a full-sized Energy Star washer uses 13 gallons of water per load, compared to 23 gallons used by a standard machine — a savings of more than 3,000 gallons a year.
Select a clothes washer with energy-saving features. To use less water, pick a model with larger capacity, water-level control and adjustable spin cycle. Look for cold-water wash, air-dry, small- and half-load and quick-wash choices. These options help you use only the amount of water needed for a particular load. And combined with detergents made especially for cold-water washing, it’s possible to avoid hot water washing almost entirely.
Last year, Energy Star began testing clothes dryers. Many certified models contain advanced moisture sensors to help reduce the dryer’s energy use. This feature ensures the dryer will automatically shut off when clothes are dry and these models use 20 percent less electricity than conventional dryers. Other dryers have a cool-dry feature for saving energy. Even with moisture sensors, keep in mind that overloading a dryer increases the drying time and uses more energy.
Bigger isn’t always better in refrigerators. You have just two size considerations to make. First, that it fits where you want it. Second, that it’s large enough for your family.
Be wary of extra features and weight the benefits with added costs. Selecting a model unnecessarily large or one offering too many features increases energy use. Features such as water and ice dispensers can cost in energy efficiency. This on-the-door convenience often increases energy use up to 20 percent. Auto-defrost lowers the unit’s efficiency also because it uses heat to speed defrosting. The most efficient refrigerators are 16 to 20 cubic feet, with the freezer on the bottom or top.
For ovens, self-cleaning ones have better insulation and are more efficient. Then consider the cooking surface. Induction cooking tops use 90 percent of the energy they emit, while traditional electric burners only use 65 percent.
Larger dishwashers use more water and electricity, and are more expensive. Buy a size that fits your needs. Check your choice for water use, heating capabilities and energy saving features. Choose a dishwasher with energy-save, air-dry or light-wash cycle features that use less energy. Look for a dishwasher with an internal water-heater to raise water temperature inside the dishwasher.
Some Energy Star certified dishwashers use soil sensors that test the grime on dishes and then adjust the cycle to wash with less water and energy as needed. New dish rack designs strategically place dishes letting energy efficient jets spray detergent and water over the dishes for better cleaning.
Clark Public Utilities participates in regional programs to offer promotions of energy efficient appliances. If you have a big purchase ahead, call an energy counselor during business hours at 360-992-3355 to see if there is a current promotion available. The utility will also pick up and recycle full-size, working fridges and freezers for free and apply a $20 credit to your utility bill.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
