COLLEGE STATION Appliances labeled “ENERGY STAR” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency save consumers money and conserve energy, states a housing specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
Consider that a typical household does nearly 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per full load with a conventional washer.
“A full-size ENERGY STAR clothes washer uses 20 to 25 gallons per load,” explains Janie Harris, Extension Service housing and environment specialist. “You could save as much as 7,000 gallons of water per year and the energy that would have been needed to heat that water. This adds up to savings for you and a big boost for the environment.”
But, what exactly is an ENERGY STAR Appliance?
“The ENERGY STAR may be found on clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers and room air conditioners. An appliance receives the ENERGY STAR rating if it is significantly more energy efficient than the minimum government standards, as determined by standard testing procedures,” according to Harris.
Though the amount by which an appliance must exceed the minimum standards is different for each product rated and depends on available technology, these products are always among the most efficient available today, according to the EPA.
Although energy-efficient models sometimes cost more to purchase initially, Harris says, any extra up-front cost can often be made up with savings on the utility bill.
“One helpful way to figure out if buying an ENERGY STAR appliance makes sense for you is to think of two price tags,” says Harris.
The first price tag is the purchase price from the appliance store. Check to see if the local utility company offers a rebate on the purchase and installation of ENERGY STAR-rated appliances.
The second price tag is the cost to operate the appliance over its lifetime. Consumers pay to operate the appliance every month for as long as they own the appliance.
“You might be surprised to see how much it can cost to own an appliance that seems like a good deal up front,” adds Harris.
ENERGY STAR clothes washers use less water to get clothes thoroughly clean. They come in top-loading and front-loading designs.
ENERGY STAR washers use sensor technology to closely control the incoming water temperature. To reduce water consumption, they spray clothes with repeated high-pressure rinses to remove soap residues rather than soaking them in a full tub of rinse water.
“What this means is nearly 50 percent less water and 30 to 40 percent less energy used per load,” explains Harris.
Some ENERGY STAR models can be stacked or mounted under a counter top. This is a useful feature for people short on space, such as apartment dwellers, she suggests. Check with manufacturers to see which models are available in this configuration.
The refrigerator is the single biggest power consumer in most households. A typical refrigerator made around 1990 uses more than 900 kilowatt hours per year that’s the same amount of energy you would use by leaving a 1,250 watt hair dryer on for a month! And the older your refrigerator is, the more power it burns. ENERGY STAR refrigerators must exceed minimum federal standards for energy consumption by at least 20 percent.
“Manual defrost refrigerators are not covered under the ENERGY STAR program, but are generally more efficient than automatic defrost refrigerators. Proper maintenance of manual defrost refrigerators is necessary to realize the energy savings.”
ENERGY STAR dishwashers save by using both improved technology for the primary wash cycle, and by using less hot water to clean. ENERGY STAR dishwashers must exceed minimum federal standards by at least 13 percent.
ENERGY STAR room air conditioners feature high-efficiency compressors, fan motors and heat transfer surfaces.
Advises Harris, “It is important to buy an air conditioner that is the correct size for the room. A properly-sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools. Running a smaller unit for a longer time will use less energy to completely condition a room than running a larger unit for a shorter time.”
The U.S. Department of Energy offers guidelines and tips on purchasing clothes dryers, ovens and ranges and water heaters.
Also, be sure to read the Federal Trade Commission’s “Energy Guide to Major Home Appliances” for general information about shopping for an efficient appliance.
ENERGY STAR appliances are carried by retailers nationwide. To see a list of all qualified products or to find specific models that qualify for the ENERGY STAR rating go to http://www.energystar.gov.
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