Whether or not you are considering upgrading your major appliances, chances are that you may not have a choice going forward into the future. Federal energy efficiency standards are such that when purchasing new appliances, stricter guidelines must be met. These stricter guidelines come in the form of energy efficiency ratings and guidelines.
Refrigerators, washing machines, and clothing dryers are the biggest consumers of energy in your home appliances. If you have a machine or appliance that is more than ten years old, then it is probably sensible to invest in new appliances – especially if you intend to stay in your home for a long period of time.
There are many benefits to upgrading your appliances to energy-efficient ones.
* Saving money – Energy-efficient appliances may be a bit more costly from the outset; however, the money they will save you over time is worthwhile. Using less energy means paying lower utility bills. Using less electricity while washing and drying your clothing and running your refrigerator means saving more money.
Your washer is something that you cannot do away with – unless you start hand washing all your clothing, of course. Most individuals today do not have that option. While some items may go on a clothesline during warmer months, this presents other problems such as bringing bugs and pollen in from outside. In addition, most of us have experienced forgetting to bring our clothes in before it rains!
Your refrigerator needs to run every day and run properly at that. Having an energy-efficient one is a wise choice indeed.
Saving the environment – Energy-efficient appliances will serve to save the environment as well. The less energy consumed, the less energy is used, and therefore there is less of a strain on air polluting power plants.
Some appliances use even less energy than others and there are guidelines that you can follow to ensure that you are saving the most money and energy possible.
The Energy Star labeled appliances currently offer the highest energy savings possible. They go above and beyond the guidelines that are set forth by the government in relation to energy efficiency. Sometimes you will even find rebates from the government or local utility company as an added incentive. Many times local utility companies will offer you a cash rebate for your old recycled machine as well.
The EnergyGuide Label is an excellent tool to use as it gives you a compare and contrast of how much energy is used for a typical appliance throughout the year. Learn how to read this label and it will serve as a guide to what your annual savings will be for one appliance as compared to another.
So whether or not you are thinking of replacing your appliances, realize that sooner or later your older appliances will need that replacing. Utilizing energy-efficient appliances in their stead is a wise choice, both for saving money and for saving the precious environment.
