Save Energy with these Appliance Tips
First of all, it is a good idea to buy appliances that come with an Energy Star rating. These are designated as such because they use less energy, save money, and contribute to a cleaner environment with a smaller carbon footprint. If you have older appliances, consider recycling them and trading up to more modern Energy Star versions. Outdated appliances - especially refrigerators - often use a great deal more electricity, so although replacing them costs money you may recoup that investment quickly through cheaper electrical bills. You may also qualify for tax incentives under some green energy government programs that reward homeowners for choosing to buy Energy Star rated appliances.
But keeping a clean house while also going green to conserve more natural resources can sometimes come down to something as simple as the push of a button. Get in the habit of setting your appliances to their optimum energy savings selections and you can also lower your utility bills.
• Use the cold water setting to wash your clothes, and set the clothes washer to the appropriate setting for the size of laundry load you are doing, so that you don't use more water than necessary.
• Check your dishwasher settings, too. You can save a great deal of energy by avoiding settings that, for example, generate heat to dry the dishes after they are washed. Opening the door to the dishwasher to let them dry naturally is a greener and less expensive alternative.
• You can also tweak the settings on your water heater for additional energy savings, so that when you do need some seriously hot water to help get those baked-on pots and pans clean or cut through the grime of a dirty outdoor grill you can have it - without wasting energy during times you don't need to have a tank full of super hot water on hand.
Although having no appliances in the home is one way to save energy, most of us do have modern conveniences such as a laundry washer and dryer and a dishwasher. Since they are such an integral part of contemporary urban life, those appliances are a great place to start when it comes to reducing energy consumption.
