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5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 2: Switch to Energy-efficient Appliances
by Sarah Dowdey
April 30, 2009
4 Comments | Add Comment
(AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Up until now, I’ve kept the start-up expenses of this countdown cheap. Reducing vampire power costs you the price of a surge protector or two (which seem to start at about $12). Driving less costs a bus token, a car-sharing membership or maybe a new pair of kicks. Reading your electric meter or scanning your bill is totally free. But at No. 2, it’s time to move on; some things cost money.
For instance: our whirring, mixing, chilling, baking, nuking appliances. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20 percent of energy bills in the average U.S. home. And while saving money starts with changing habits (vampires again), it also helps to have appliances that save money for you.
Energy Star qualified products use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than basic models. While they’re initially more expensive than nonrated items, that preliminary payout starts to look better when it’s stacked up against the energy savings accumulated over the appliance’s lifetime. Plus, some of the pricier Energy Star labeled products like water heaters, biomass stoves and insulation will even qualify you for a tax credit.
Find out more or go to the home page:
How Energy Star Works
How Green Buildings Work
How Energy-efficient Electronics Work
See the rest of the series here:
5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 5: Put a Stake in Vampire Power
5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 4: Drive Less
5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 3: Keep Track of What You’re Spending
5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 1: Do a Home Energy Audit
Comments
4 Responses to “5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 2: Switch to Energy-efficient Appliances”
[...] Costs – No. 4: Drive Less 5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 3: Keep Track of What You’re Spending 5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 2: Switch to Energy-efficient Appliances 5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 1: Do a Home Energy [...]
[...] a Stake in Vampire Power 5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 3: Keep Track of What You’re Spending 5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 2: Switch to Energy-efficient Appliances 5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 1: Do a Home Energy [...]
Sheila says: Energy-efficient appliances might cost more in the short term, but ultimately they save you money when they do the same job for less power.
[...] – No. 5: Put a Stake in Vampire Power 5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 4: Drive Less 5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 2: Switch to Energy-efficient Appliances 5 Ways to Cut Energy Costs – No. 1: Do a Home Energy [...]
