Environmental

Save On Energy-Guzzling, Electricity-Sucking Appliances

PartSelect — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:05:42 GMT

We all want to make a difference by helping our environment and we’d love to save some money on our power bills, but let’s face it - when it comes to energy-guzzling major home appliances, getting rid of them is not an option. So when you’re stuck with a necessity that could be doing damage to the environment and your wallet, what’s a homeowner to do? It comes down to compromise and taking action to minimize the damage. And the best place to start is with some of the greediest appliances in the home.

    The first offender is one of the most used appliances in any home, the refrigerator. Many people don’t have a clue that their refrigerator accounts for 5% of their yearly energy bill, a figure that doubles if your fridge is made before 1993. Combine this with bad habits, such as leaving the door open while you select your midnight snack, and you’ve got a sure fire way to waste energy and money. Since you can’t simply shut off your refrigerator, make it more energy efficient by doing things like cleaning the coils on the backside and underneath. A fridge will cycle less when the coils are free of dirt and debris and a steady temperature of 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit helps make a difference too. It’s also a good idea to make sure your fridge is kept away from heat sources, such as ovens and heaters, and to leave a space between the wall and fridge for air to circulate. Of course, don’t forget to minimize the time you leave the door open when deciding what to munch on.

    The next greedy guzzler on the list is the clothes dryer, which is typically the second biggest electricity sucker in the home. In fact, clothes dryers are so inefficient they haven’t even earned an EnergyStar label. There isn’t much you can do to make your clothes dryer more earth-friendly (aside from splurging for a new, more efficient model) but you can avoid over-drying by using your dryer’s moisture sensor settings so it shuts off when your clothes are dry. You should also only run it with full loads, keep the lint trap clean, and if you really want to make a difference on your bill, grab some rope and clothespins and make a good old fashioned clothes line.

    The dishwasher may feel like a necessity to many but for the most part, owning one is really a luxury and an energy sucker. But don’t feel bad just yet, you can have your cake and eat it too if you use your dishwasher wisely. First, only run the dishwasher if there is a full load of dishes and let them air dry rather than wasting all that energy the dishwasher uses. Another no-brainer is to try to use fewer dishes in the course of a day. Fewer dishes mean fewer loads and that means fewer dollars of your money going down the drain. And lastly, make sure you only pre-rinse your dishes when necessary (burnt on food) and if you’ve pre-rinsed them by hand, don’t run the pre-rinse cycle when you do your load of dishes. Need more green ideas for your dishwasher? Treehugger.com is always a great resource.

    The clothes washer is not an appliance anyone wants to live without but don’t let that stop you from using it more efficiently. The truth of it is, there is one very simple thing you can do to save 90% of the energy a clothes washer consumes – wash in cold water. This is the biggest reason why washers are considered energy guzzlers and even using the warm water option will cut the energy used by half. Since a washer uses pretty much the same amount of energy regardless of load size, running full loads as much as possible is another energy saving tip. In fact, there are several seemingly small things you can do to save energy with your washing machine.

    Granted the best way to make an impact on the amount of energy your appliances use is to invest in some EnergyStar appliances. They do cost a little more but in the long run, they’ll save you money on your energy bills and really help the environment. But if you don’t have the extra green in your wallet to buy new appliances, don’t despair. There are several easy things you can do today to make your home more green. Eliminate some bad habits, make a few small sacrifices and most importantly be conscious of what you’re appliances are doing, or rather consuming.

For more energy saving tips:
13 Simple Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill
Save Energy Through Your Appliances

9 Wacky Ways To Reuse Appliance Parts

PartSelect — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:17:24 GMT

Want to do something creative and environmentally friendly with your old appliances? Is the old fashioned way of disposal just too boring for your tastes? Then try out these zany and even practical ways to reuse your household appliances.

1. Turn your old washer drum into a rustic, outdoor fire pit! The holes in the drum allow air to get in and let your fire “breathe”.

2. Use your old dryer as a storage bin for apples and potatoes. You can even reuse that endless dryer lint!

3. How about converting your old fridge into a tool shed or storage closet for the basement or garage?

4. If you’re good with your hands, you can get really creative and make a lamp out a washing machine drum and pulley wheels.

5. Check out this video called Trash To Treasures Gardening and find out how you can use broken pots, old stove parts and more to decorate your garden in a truly unique way.

6. If your home landscape lacks some greenery, reuse a washer tub, dryer tub, or even an old BBQ as a plant pot.

7. Get really innovative like this guy and build your very own scooter using some old appliance parts.

8. Got a mind for engineering or robotics? Let your old appliances inspire you to build a robot.

9. You can even be inventive with appliance parts, such as circuit boards, with these Ten Creative Ways To Reuse Circuit Boards.

By being inventive, imaginative and conscious of your waste, you can actually do something creative that helps the environment. Who knew being green could be so much fun?

Recycling Your Old Appliances

PartSelect — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:08:52 GMT

There are thousands of ways we can be ‘green’ and help do our part to protect our environment. From recycling old newspapers and pop bottles to donating used clothing and furniture, it seems there is a way to recycle or reuse just about everything. So why is it many homeowners forget about recycling their old household appliances? When it comes time to dump that outdated or worn-out appliance, resist the urge to toss it in the dump and do your part to properly dispose or recycle it. As you’ll see, it can be as easy a phone call!

Bounty and Municipal Programs
    If you need to get rid of an old appliance the first thing you should do is call your electric utility and see if they offer a bounty program in your area. These programs can give you a rebate for your old, unwanted appliances. Generally, these appliances do have to meet certain requirements and be in working condition to qualify.
You can also try to arrange an appointment with your municipality to have your appliance picked up or to find out where you can take them to be disposed. Find out more about these programs by calling your municipality or checking out the Environmental Protection Agency’s FAQ on disposing appliances.

Donation Programs
    Why recycle an appliance when another family can reuse it? If you’re updating your home and have decided to get new appliances, you can donate your old appliances through various donation programs such as the Salvation Army. These organizations are a great way to get rid of any home appliance but they do need to be in working condition before they are accepted. If you’re interested in these types of programs, there are several options available here and here.

Disposing of Appliance with Refrigerants
    Appliances containing refrigerants need special attention when being disposed. Refrigerators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers all contain dangerous refrigerants such as Freon, which can deplete the ozone if not properly disposed. If you need to get rid of one of these appliances and they do not qualify for one of the above programs, check out the US Environmental Protection Agency for proper disposal. Remember, never under any circumstance attempt to remove refrigerants yourself as they can cause you and the planet physical harm.

    We all share the responsibility of keeping our communities and the environment safe and with so many options available, there’s no reason not to. So next time you’re thinking of throwing out an appliance, or anything else for that matter, make sure you stop and think about the safest and friendliest way to do so. If we all work together, we can make a difference.

For more information on recycling and proper household hazardous waste disposal:
Appliance Recycling Centers of America
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Earth911
Natural Resources Canada

EnergyStar Appliances: Clean and Green

PartSelect — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:16:34 GMT

Being environmentally conscientious helps preserve our precious earth and can also save you money! Look at the appliances being used in your home on a regular basis. Are any of these appliances 10, 15, or even 20 years old? If so, you can bet your bottom dollar you’re spending more on monthly utility costs than you have to.

    In recent studies, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average family household is spending nearly $2,000 per year in utility costs and kitchen appliances are at fault for almost half of these expenses.

    The EPA, along with the US Dept of Energy (DOE), has created a classification system called Energy Star. This system is designed to pinpoint domestic appliances that are more energy efficient, boost air quality and decrease utility bills. Although appliances equipped with the Energy Star label (EnergyGuide) can potentially cost up to 40% more than standard models, they can save up to half of the daily energy you use. So not only are you saving money in the long run, you’re helping to protect our environment for a better tomorrow and future generations.

Understanding Your EnergyGuide Label:

    To help you better compare Energy Star appliances and make sure you’re getting the most efficient product, all Energy Star appliances are required to have an EnergyGuide label. This label shows you the model number and features allowing you to compare things like size and capacity, but most importantly, it estimates on average how much energy this model will use per year. It gives you a range to show you the least and most amount of energy used per year, and it also gives you an estimate of how much this model will cost per year.

Energy Star Models Standard Features:

Energy Star Clothes Washer:
·    Uses 50% less water.
·    Extracts more water from clothing in the spin cycle to help reduce drying time.
·    Reduces wear and tear on clothing.
·    Uses up to 40% less electricity.
·    Up to $110 in savings each year.

Energy Star Refrigerators:
·    Consumes at least 40% less than standard models.
·    Up to $150 in savings every year.

Energy Star Dehumidifier:
·    Uses between 10 - 20% less power.
·    Around $30 in savings each year.

Energy Star Dishwasher:
·    Uses half the water of regular models.
·    Use over 40% less energy.
·    Save $90 over the dishwasher’s lifetime.

Household Air Conditioner:
·    Uses 10% less energy than standard models.
·    Save around $250 over the air conditioner’s lifetime.

Save On Your Monthly Bill With These Energy Saving Tips:

    If an Energy Star appliance is not in your immediate future you can still save money right now with these energy savings tips for each appliance in your home.

Clothes Washer:
·    Wash full loads and avoid using warm/hot water unless necessary.

Refrigerator:
·    Avoid overheating by allowing a space of at least one inch between the wall and the back of the refrigerator. This will help air to circulate and control the temperature.
·    Don’t place your appliance by areas that produce heat. Radiators, vents, heat ducts, stoves, and even sunlight from your windows can cause the unit to use more power than needed.
·    Check the temperature of both your fridge and freezer regularly. Keep the fridge between 35 and 38 degrees and your freezer at 0 degrees.

Dehumidifier:
·    Close all windows and doors when running your dehumidifier.
·    Change your filters on a regular basis. A build up of dirt can hinder its performance causing the unit to use more energy.
·    Keep it away from walls, furniture or dusty areas.

Dishwasher:
·    Wash full loads of dishes.
·    Only use standard options. Pre-rinse, heat-dry and rinse-hold are extra features that use more energy.

Household Air Conditioner:
·    Close all windows and doors.
·    Set your timer for temperature control.
·    Select the correct unit for the size of your room.

    Help us win the battle against our diminishing resources and put an end to excessive energy use. Invest in Energy Star approved appliances and you’ll not only save on monthly utility costs, but also reduce pollution and emissions into our homes and environment. After all, preserving our earth is everyone’s responsibility, what do you have to lose?