Home energy savings

Energy efficient appliances

Nowadays we have to consider home energy savings when buying household appliances. Electrical appliances are extremely convenient taking the effort and thought out of everyday activities like cooking, cleaning, cooling and washing. No longer do we use a washboard, bar of soap and a washing line to clean our clothes – we have the luxury of machines. Yes, they are a luxury.

Repair or replace
The age old debate with your older household appliances – do you repair them or replace them? Upgrading electrical appliances to newer energy efficient models may seem to conflict with the whole ethos of eco design (especially my article on consumerism where I cannot encourage you enough to buy less, less and less and repair more, more and more), however in some cases it is actually more environmentally friendly and economical to replace appliances. Appliance waste is ever increasing, with few adequate recycling facilities.

The most effective way of appliance energy efficiency is to limit the number of appliances you have in your home, by thinking of practical ways to avoid them. An example would be to change the function of a small spare room into a room where you can dry your clothes – this means that you won’t need a tumble dryer.

The EU label
EU regulations mean that the majority of your household appliances must display an energy efficiency label, helping you the consumer to make an informed choice when buying new appliances. Each electrical appliance is given a rating from the most efficient A to the least efficient G. Also look for the 'Energy Efficiency Recommended' label on new appliances.

Fridges and freezers
These appliances consume the most amount of energy aside from heating and cooling systems (even the new super efficient appliances). There will also be a difference in the amount of energy used depending on energy rating with some fridge models being 20% more efficient than local standards. Tall fridge/freezers are more efficient than side by side models. It is recommended to replace all models that were made prior to 2001. Old CFC gases used were banned from use in fridges and freezers around 10 years ago due to the damaging effects on the ozone layer.

Dispose of your old fridge and freezer responsibility – contact your local council to find an appropriate appliance waste facility. Never dump your appliance! Fridges and freezers older than 2001 should be disposed as they are too inefficient to continue running, costing more financially and costing more to the environment through the generation, supply and use of electricity – think about the waste of natural resources!

Tips for fridge and freezer home energy savings
* Place your fridge and freezer away from ovens, cookers, washing machines and dishwashers – any source of heat which includes natural and artificial lighting. It takes up to one sixth more energy to run these appliances when they are adjacent to a heat source.
* Ensure that your fridge and freezer have enough ventilation space around the vents.
* Avoid added gizmos like automatic defrost, ice makers and water filters which increase energy use unnecessarily.
* Keep stand alone freezers in cooler environments such as the garage, shed or cellar to help save energy use.
* Avoid keeping the fridge of freezer doors open - always shut them immediately after use to save on energy use when warm air enters the appliance causing it to work harder.
* Avoid immediately putting food which is hot or warm into your fridge or freezer, wait for it to cool down naturally. This saves your appliance having to work much harder to cool the raise in temperature.
* Be careful with the temperature setting in your fridge and freezer – don’t over cool.
* Keep freezers stocked to near or full capacity for the most efficient use of energy.
* Don’t stock fridges to full capacity as this uses more energy.
* Clean and defrost your fridge and freezer regularly to ensure maximum energy efficiency.
* If you have a built in larder in your home – use it to reduce the need for a large fridge.

Tips for oven, cooker, hob and microwave home energy savings
* Choose gas appliances over electric as these use up to half the amount of energy.
* Choose a ceramic hob over conventional rings to reduce the amount of energy used.
* Choose a fan oven over a conventional oven to reduce the amount of energy used.
* If your kitchen is large enough invest in an aga, a long term investment which makes use of heat for cooking purposes and heating for the kitchen – dual energy efficiency.
* Avoid cooking gizmos such as pressure cookers, electric steamers and microwaves – opt for traditional cooking and only a few appliances.

Dishwashers
Your dishwasher uses the largest amount of energy out of all of your household appliances to heat the water. This can be as much as 80% of energy used for heating alone. Energy saving dishwashers have increased motor efficiency, cycle sensors and use lower levels of hot water. It is recommended to replace all models that are not energy star models (USA) or EU energy label A+, A++, A, B and C. Washing up your dishes and pans by hand wastes more water than dishwashers – however using a dishwasher uses more electrical energy than washing up by hand.

Tips for dishwasher home energy savings
* Choose a model which comes with an energy saving, half wash or light load washing option.
* Opt for an inbuilt water heater where you can adjust it to a cooler temperature.
* Choose a model which comes with a range of wash cycles for lightly and heavily soiled dishes.
* Choose a model with a drying option which does not require heat.

Washing machines
Washing machines alongside dishwashers are the least energy efficient appliances in your home. They can display 2 higher energy rating labels than the others; A+ and A++. The maximum amount of energy used in a washing machine is the water heating element. Replace washing machines that were manufactured prior to 1994 for maximum energy efficiency.

Water conservation is as much a high priority for the environment as energy savings and efficiency. An older washing machine during one cycle may use twice as much water than an energy efficient model. Top loading washing machines use more water during the spinning cycle, which lengthens drying time and may involve the use of tumble dryers (more energy). Overall top loading washing machines use more water, heat and energy to operate than front loaders.

Tips for washing machine home energy savings
* Use your local laundrette, as shared machines save energy use.
* Use the fastest spin cycle so that the clothes are as dry as possible – limiting use of your tumble dryer.
* Use your machine only when you have a full load of washing * Use a washing cycle that is lower than 40 degrees Celsius to reduce energy for heating the water

Tumble dryers
There are more advantages than just home energy savings when you hang your clothes on a washing line instead of using a tumble dryer – sunlight is a natural disinfectant and causes a natural lightening effect on your clothes.

Tips for tumble dryer home energy savings
* Use your washing line in your garden as much as possible – what can be better than clothes that have that fresh air smell?
* When you cannot use your outside washing line, change a small room into an airing room to avoid using the tumble dryer.
* Use a clothes airer near to a radiator or heater in winter to dry clothes as quickly as possible without tumble drying.
* Choose a moisture sensor tumble dryer over a timer controlled machine – this makes sure that you do not over dry clothes which wastes electricity.
* Choose an appliance that has sensors in the drum itself rather than in the vent tube, as this means it will finish sooner, reducing the use of electricity.
* Opt for a tumble dryer which has a cold air function – lessening the amount of energy used to heat the drum.

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