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Appliances can account for around 30 per cent of home energy use, so choosing the most energy-efficient products can bring big savings. There's a range of products that can increase their energy efficiency, save money on bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Most countries offer a system of energy ratings that you can use to compare products. Energy-rated appliances include
- Dishwashers
- Washing machines
- Clothes dryers
- TVs
- Computer monitors
- Air conditioners
- Fridges and freezers
Choosing Energy-Efficient Appliances
When choosing an appliance, consider
- The best size and power for your needs
- The cost of running the appliance compared to other models
- The most energy and water-efficient model
It's worth paying extra for a more energy-efficient model, as it will cost less to run. Check if your country's government offers rebates for buying more energy-efficient appliances like fridges and washing machines.
Buying Second-Hand
Although cheaper to buy, older appliances are less energy-efficient and closer to the end of their lifecycle.
Use appliances efficiently.
Many appliances continue to use energy even when switched off on the machine, because they're in standby power mode. This can add up to 3 per cent of a household's energy use. Other than fridges and freezers or any critical medical equipment, it's worth switching most appliances off at the wall. Following the manufacturer's instructions to keep appliances in good working order will help avoid expensive repair and replacement costs.
Disposal of Used Appliances
Find out if your area offers special recycling facilities where you can drop off unwanted products. This keeps toxic waste out of landfill while enabling recovery of valuable materials.
Fridges and Freezers
Fridges and freezers account for 8 to 13 per cent of household energy bills, so compare the energy-efficiency of fridges and freezers when purchasing. Determine the size of fridge needed:
- One to two people need 250–380L (55–83.5 imperial gallons, 66–100 U.S. gallons).
- Three to four people need 350–530L (77–116.6 imperial gallons, 92.5–140 U.S. gallons).
- Four or more people need 440L+ (96.8+ imperial gallons, 116.2+ U.S. gallons).
Measure the space where the fridge will go, and allow an extra 5cm (2 inches) for each side, as well as 10cm (4 inches) at the top and back for ventilation. If possible, position the fridge away from direct sunlight and ovens, heaters and dishwashers.
Set the fridge to between 3°C and 4°C (37°F and 39°F) and the freezer to between -15 and -18°C (5°F and 0°F). Each degree lower uses 5 per cent more energy.
Dishwashers
Today's dishwashers use 25 per cent less energy compared to those of 10 years ago. This is due, in part, to the introduction of energy labelling and ratings. Dishwashers with good drying performance use more power and are therefore less energy efficient. The best option is a machine with a high energy and water-efficiency rating.
Dishwasher Types
Dishwasher types include
- Stand-alone
- Built-in
- Integrated
- Dish-drawer
Dishwasher Features
Dishwasher features include
- Bio mode for enzyme-based detergents
- Self-cleaning filters
- Anti-flood devices
- Automatic blockage detection
- Quiet running mode
- Bottle-cleaning jets
Washing Machines
Washing machines have various energy and water-saving functions. Combination washer/dryer machines are also available:
- Front-loaders are generally more expensive, but use less energy, water and detergent.
- Top-loaders are generally cheaper to buy and have shorter wash cycles, but can be harsher on clothes.
Wash in cold water.
Heating water is by far the biggest user of energy when washing fabric. Washing in cold water saves energy and money, but be aware that some machines need both hot and cold water to function properly. Dissolving powder detergent before adding it to the washer will improve its performance in cold water.
Solar Hot Water
Using solar-heated water for warm-to-hot washes can save a considerable amount on bills. However, to use solar for washing, the machine needs a hot-water connection.
For dual-connection models, many manufacturers recommend a lower maximum temperature than most hot water systems deliver – particularly solar hot-water systems. Check that the hot-water supply temperature to your house does not exceed manufacturer's recommendations. (Some front-loaders are not fitted with dual hot-and-cold water connections.)
Wash a full load.
Machines often use the same amount of energy and water to wash a full load as a partial load, unless the machine has a load sensor or a half-load setting.
Clothes Dryers
Clothes dryers vary in energy use. In dry countries a clothes dryer may not be needed. Although the machines are convenient, it's free to dry clothes on the line or an indoor rack. If you do need one, compare the energy-efficiency of different clothes dryers when buying one. Below are the different types of clothes dryers on the market.
Vented
This is the most basic and common type in use. They're cheap to buy, but expensive to run. They extract the moisture from the clothes into the laundry room, raising the humidity. Condensation can also form on the laundry walls, so good ventilation (an open window) is needed when running vented dryers.
Vented dryers can be fitted with a hose to extract the hot air outside. Autosensing types that switch off when the clothes are dry, rather than running on a timer, are cheaper to run. Most clothes dryers are electric, so are ideal to use with a solar supply source.
Condenser
These models extract moisture from the clothes but collect it in a reservoir or drain it off. This prevents humidity and condensation in the laundry, but expels hot air into the room. Condensers are more expensive to buy than vented models.
Heat-Pump Condenser
These dry clothes using the same principles as an air conditioner. They are expensive to buy but highly efficient and cheap to run. The energy they use is captured and reused in the drying cycle.
Gas Powered
These are available, but electrical models are preferable for efficiency, solar compatibility and sustainability.
Standby Power Mode
Many plugged-in appliances continue to use energy even when switched off on the machine, because they're in standby mode. This can add up to 3 per cent or more of a household's energy use.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2019
The original of this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
Reference:
Australia Government Department of the Environment and Energy. (n.d.). Appliances (B. Schuette, Ed.). Retrieved 15 October 2019 from https://www.energy.gov.au