So you’re thinking of replacing that old refrigerator? Maybe you need a new washer and dryer set. No matter what the major appliance that you are looking for is, there are always many things to consider. Size, style, functions and especially price are key factors that come to mind right away, but there’s another thing that is important to consider when purchasing a major appliance. What I am referring to is how energy efficient your product is. 

         The destruction of the environment is one of the most important issues that we are presently facing and as a country we are the world’s sixth largest user of primary energy according to Environment Canada. A good portion of this consumption comes from the residential sector. Luckily though major appliances have been a major driving force in the reduction of Canadian energy use due to the improvement of the technology used in these products and programs such as the Energy Star ® program. For example, the office of energy efficiency demonstrates how refrigerators and freezers have shown a great improvement, as energy efficiency in refrigerators has improved by about 190% over the past 15 years while freezers follow closely at 138% . This remarkable improvement can be attributed to stricter rules in Canada and the United States concerning these products. Refrigerators that are Energy Star approved though are 15% more efficient than the standard norms require them to be. Similar improvements could be found in many other appliances such as dishwashers, clothes washers, dryers, ovens and bottled water coolers. It is always important to know harmful your appliance is to the environment.

          It is also important to know how harmful your appliance will be to your wallet. Although the initial price of buying a more energy efficient product might seem more expensive, overall going with an Energy Star certified product can be much cheaper in the long run. If you have ever looked at an Appliance sold in Canada closely you have probably noticed the Energuide label somewhere on the machine. This label offers valuable information about the model, and it’s energy consumption in relation to other similar products. Most importantly though, you will find the average annual energy consumption in kilowatt hours. What this precious bit of information allows you to do is calculate how much it would cost to operate the appliance. If you multiply the Energuide rating by the cost of electricity in your region in $/kWh you will get the cost of operating your appliance for one year. To take this a step further we can multiply the cost by the life expectancy of the particular product to determine how much your expected electricity cost would be. The more efficient your machine is the lower your annual cost will be and the less you will spend on electricity throughout the appliance’s lifetime.

        Although appliances are getting better every day, we cannot rely on the manufacturers to do all the work. As individuals we too can help save energy by the way we use our appliances. The first big thing is to recycle your old appliances as opposed to keeping a second fridge in the basement. If you figure that it might come in use one day, the best thing to do is at least to unplug it. The inside of your fridge is also important, as crowded fridges work much less efficiently than emptier ones. When it comes to washing clothes, hot water is not always needed, most of the time cold or warm water is more than enough. Dryers also have sensor cycles which are more efficient than a timed dry. The kitchen offers more chances to save by waiting till the dishwasher is full before washing and avoiding preheating the oven when it isn’t necessary. All these tips can help contribute to a more energy efficient home.

       Bringing home an energy efficient product not only benefits the planet but also benefits you as a consumer, and the more demand there is for better products the more the manufacturers will push themselves to supply better products. So as you’re trying to decide which stove matches the cabinets or which refrigerator can hold more beer, don’t forget to ask about the Energuide rating for you and for your planet. 

Sources:

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-appliances.cfm?attr=4 

http://hydroonenetwork.com/en/efficiency/downloads/PowerSaver_04_Appliances.pdf http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/Indicator_series/new_issues.cfm?issue_id=11&tech_id=45#bio_pic