Tech Brand Talk

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While some moms may appreciate a new, energy-efficient appliance as a Mother’s Day gift, your best bet might be cooking a great meal for mom.

While you’re in the kitchen, consider the tools and appliances you’re using and whether it’s time to upgrade to new, energy-efficient versions. You won’t just save energy and money, you’ll get some great new features as well.

Refrigerators not what they used to be

There have been numerous changes to refrigerators over the last few years, including theintroduction of LED lighting, better insulation, high efficiency compressors and better air flow technologies.

In a nutshell, today’s fridges offer more features and a big potential source of energy savings compared to the old models.

For example, depending on how old your fridge is, you could save 50% or more on energy by switching to a CEE Tier 3 refrigerator. Find out how much you could save on michaelbluejay’com’s helpful page.

Wondering what’s out there? A couple of good high efficiency units that are worth looking at are the Samsung RF323TE French Door Refrigerator and the Whirlpool WRF560SEYM French Door Refrigerator for smaller spaces.

Dishwashers

New ENERGY STAR dishwashers not only save electrical energy, but also cut back on the amount of water needed to wash dishes.  And regardless of how your water is heated, you’ll save energy there, too.

If your dishwasher is of 1990’s vintage you could be saving $40 per year on energy by upgrading to a new ENERGY STAR model. 

Stoves not an easy choice

Stoves are a tough fit for an energy efficiency blog because there are no ENERGY STAR ratings to help you pick the best options. However, looking at a stove’s features can give you a clue to where you might see some energy savings.

Some stove types are more energy-efficient than others:   Induction cooktops are far more efficient than gas or traditional, coil-style electric ranges. Gas ranges with electronic ignition are far more efficient than those that use a pilot light, and self-cleaning ovens tend to be more efficient because they’re better insulated.

New features can also help. The Samsung Flex Duo Range, for example, offers the ability to split your oven into two.

Remember, too, that microwaves use much less energy than a conventional stove.

Learn other ways to save energy while cooking

Read our kitchen lighting tips story for ways to improve your lighting while saving energy

Don’t miss out on our appliance rebates

BC Hydro offers rebates of up to $75 on select ENERGY STAR dishwashers, refrigerators, clothes washers and freezers through our Appliance Rebate Program.

Go to bchydro.com for Power Smart conservation tips  and energy saving rebates or join us on Facebook or Twitter.

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