Upgrade to Energy Star Appliances – Save Energy and Money
Updating your household appliances can be a very large expense especially if the appliances you have are still in working order. When you do decide to upgrade whether it be out of choice or due to old appliance failure, look for the Energy Star logo. Appliances with the Energy Star logo are up to 50% more efficient and use less energy and water to operate which will easily save you $75 a year.
Don’t just check the price tag; be sure to look at the Energy Guide Tag as well.
An energy guide tag can be found on every new appliance and will tell you exactly how much energy the machine will consume during operation, less energy means more savings. Remember you’re not just saving money here, you’re saving mother earth. So check for yourself and compare Energy Star appliances with similar non-Energy Star appliances and see exactly how much more efficient they can be. The bottom line is when buying new appliances look at both tags, obviously the price tag, but don’t forget to look at the yellow energy guide tag as well.
Even More Ways to Save.
When you or your significant other, or whoever, cooks a meal at home, don’t put the leftovers in the refrigerator right away. Place them on the counter and give them a chance to cool beforehand. Doing so will keep your refrigerator from working harder to keep the temperature down. By the way the ideal temp in your fridge is between 35 – 38 degrees Fahrenheit (1.66 – 3.33 degrees Celsius) in the cooler section and about 5 degrees Fahrenheit in the freezer portion. After using the oven consider leaving the door cracked in the winter to let the heat escape and help heat your home, there is no need in keeping that energy cooped up unless of course its summer time. This may not be a good idea if you have little ones running around. Remember not to over fill your dryer with clothes as they will take longer to dry and waste energy. Also, take advantage of your already warm dryer by doing consecutive loads and be sure to check your lint screen between each load. Opening your dishwasher and letting your dishes air dry instead of using the heat dry feature is another way to save energy and money while using appliances.