Consumers have become increasingly conscious about the need to reduce energy consumption in order to conserve the environment. Home appliance manufacturers have responded to this need by creating products that are designed to be powerful yet energy efficient.
As a result, the market is overflowing with a wide range of power saving refrigerators, cookers, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, and even central home heating and cooling equipment. As most people start using these appliances, the number of complaints arising from high energy bills has reduced.
Why you should upgrade
If you are still using appliances that you bought over a decade ago, you need to upgrade. Your old equipment was simply designed to accomplish a task and may not have taken power consumption into account.
Technology has improved so much today that this has allowed for cutting-edge appliances which perform the same task using a fraction of the energy used by old equipment.
By upgrading;
- You will pay less to the utility company.
- You will also save the environment.
In a few years time, nuclear power plants will not be able to sustain the power consumption occasioned in most homes.
If every person did an upgrade in their home, power consumption would be greatly reduced and the strain on power plants would ease off.
Below are some guidelines that will assist you to buy the best energy efficient models.
- Look for the Energy Star Sticker
The federal government has set very strict energy efficiency standards that require manufacturers to only produce models that will conserve energy.
When a product has an energy star, its efficiency standards exceed those set by the federal government. This assures you that you are buying the most energy efficient product that has attracted the best reviews in the market.
Products that are given energy star rating also tend to come with attractive product deals to encourage people to buy them. So in addition to saving money on electricity, you will end up saving money on your purchase as well.
- Refer to the Product Energy Consumption Label
Appliance manufacturers are required to put an energy consumption label on the appliance, in the product manual and on the product package.
Compare the consumption of different products. Even if the product says A-rated or something similar, get into the details of the exact yearly consumption.
- Your Product should be the Right Size
There is a product for every room size. If you buy oversized items, be sure that your bill will not get any better.
- Choose Products that use Gas
Where possible, buy equipment that runs on gas. This is especially the case for cookers. If you are making meals on an electric cooker every day, your bills will really add up.
Get a cooker that uses both electricity and gas so that you balance out the electricity consumption.
- Consider Your Long Term Benefits
Energy efficient appliances tend cost to more than other products. However, in the medium to long term, you will recoup the money you spend on the appliance because you will save so much on energy.
