Clothes washers, dryers and dishwashers all save us time by doing the hard work for us. The downside to these conveniences is that collectively, appliances use more energy in our homes than anything else, and a large amount of water as well. As it’s every person’s responsibility to conserve energy and water where they can to help the environment, we ought to know a few easy ways to get the best out of our major appliances.

Chief among the ways to make your home more eco-friendly is to stay up-to-date with the latest technology, since manufacturers have made reducing energy consumption one of their top concerns. If it’s time to replace an aging appliance in your home, and new home owners will find that even the most basic models are far more efficient than ever before.

“Water consumption in washers and dishwashers have been reduced while capacity has been increased,” says Sandee Wahl, Trail Appliances’ marketing manager, citing a few examples of how new innovations in design can reduce your home’s carbon footprint. “Compressors in fridges have [also] become more efficient at bringing the energy consumption down.”

She recommends checking the EnerGuide sticker that by law must be found on every new appliance sold in Canada to see what that machine’s energy consumption is, and comparing it to others of the same type. It will outline the appliance’s average annual energy consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh) and its efficiency relative to similar models.

Looking for the Energy Star logo on an appliance is even better, since only the most efficient models receive this designation. Appliances awarded Energy Star certification use on average 20 to 30 per cent less energy than the minimum standard.

Wahl also stresses that it’s important to get help choosing appliances that fit your individual needs. “If you know what you want to accomplish with your appliances, a qualified, well-educated sales person will be able to ask the right questions to ensure you receive the right appliances for your home and for your budget,” she says.

For example, a couple living together without children likely don’t need a 25-cubic-foot refrigerator, when a smaller model would serve them just as well. In some cases, just owning an energy-efficient appliance can save you money and energy in the long term. In the case of a deep freeze, buying food in bulk and freezing it gives you a discount on your purchase and reduces trips to the store, and therefore tailpipe emissions.

Whether you’ve selected new appliances and want to see them go the extra mile, or want to improve the energy savings of your older models, there are many things you can do for each appliance to save a few kilowatts (see table below).

Appliances make our lives a lot easier, but they also cost a lot of money, both up-front when we purchase them, and afterwards, when we pay the power and water bills. By planning carefully for our needs and following the above tips afterwards, we can be sure to reduce our homes’ carbon footprints and save some money. Thankfully, manufacturers and retailers have taken note that energy-efficient appliances are what consumers want in their homes, and so helping out the planet doesn’t mean having to sacrifice style either. From stainless steel fridges and dishwashers to brightly coloured washer-dryer sets, your home can look good and be eco-friendly.  CL

ENERGY-SAVING TIPS FOR APPLIANCES

Fridges
NEW - Select a bottom-mount fridge if possible. These can be up to 10 per cent more efficient than Energy Star standards.
OLD -Keep the coils clean. Coils covered with dust, pet hair and other grimy stuff reduce the fridge’s efficiency.

Ranges
NEW - Choose a convection oven, which uses one-third less energy than a standard electric one. If possible, do not locate it next to the fridge, as the heat from the oven will make the fridge work harder.
OLD - Only use it if you need to. Consider whether you could use a toaster oven or the microwave instead, both of which use less energy than a full-size range.

Dishwashers
NEW - Look for an energy-saving booster heater option that will heat the water going into the dishwasher up to the required temperature, so you won’t have to have your home’s hot water tank turned up so high.
OLD - Don’t run the dishwasher when it’s only half-full, which wastes water and electricity, or use the heated dry option. Instead, open the door a crack once the cycle is finished and let your dishes air-dry.

Washers and dryers
NEW - Buy a high-efficiency front-loading washing machine. Not only will it save water and energy, but it will reduce the energy consumption of your dryer as well by spinning out more of the water beforehand, leading to less drying time.
OLD - Choose a cold-water laundry soap and skip hot washes, and don’t do small loads. Wahl also advises to skip the dryer altogether during the warmer months. “In the summer, a clothesline works really well!” she says. 

Deep freezes
NEW - kip the automatic defrost option, which can use up to twice as much energy. Instead, defrost your deep freeze manually when needed.
OLD - Keep it full. Deep freezes are more efficient when used to capacity. Also, if possible, keep your deep freeze in the basement, where it’s usually cooler.