Every homeowner wants to save as much as they possibly can on energy. Saving energy at home transcends beyond having an energy efficient home, fitted with the right windows and doors, as well as having the proper insulation.
It also includes keeping a keen eye on appliances since some of these are the greatest consumers of power in the home. It is imperative for every homeowner that is keen on spending less on energy bills to be very careful with the type of appliances they have in their house.
Here is a brief guide to help ensure you don’t spend a little fortune on energy bills because of your appliances-:
Buy appliances of the Right Size
A common mistake most homeowners make when trying to save energy is to buy the wrong appliance size. It goes without saying that the size of the appliance is very important due to its direct implication on the energy consumption of the appliance. Big appliances will consume a lot of energy, while small ones will consume relatively less energy.
This is not to say that you must always purchase small appliances even if you need ones with larger capacities, but don’t rush to get a bigger one unless you have determined that it is the right one for your needs. If you are not sure about sizes, don’t shy away from asking experts for their professional advice on the best appliance that will meet all your needs, while at the same time helping you save on energy.
Go for Appliances with Energy-Saving Settings
For appliances like dishwashers, dryers and refrigerators, it is important to buy models with clear energy-saving settings and long term efficiency to save money on your bills and avoid washer repairs. With dishwashers, if you are dealing with slightly dirty dishes, you can always get them cleaned after a light wash. There would be no need to use a full-powered wash cycle to clean them because you will end up using a lot of energy. The same applies to any appliance that might have different options of operations to help save the amount of energy used when they are working. With advancements in technology, most home appliance manufacturers are now including these settings in their products, and it is a good idea to check them out every time you are making a purchase, since they will go a long way in helping you save the amount of money you spend on power bills.
Consider the Energy-Guide Label
With today’s technology, you should never consider buying an appliance if they don’t have an Energy Star. Such appliances will not just create a hole in your wallet, but they will also be prone to constant breakdowns, which will compel you to keep on making appliance repair calls in West Island & Montreal.
Every home appliance you are thinking of buying should be Energy Star certified, and you should take the time and research the appliance’s efficiency stats, and other important information such as the expected yearly operating costs. Without the Energy Guide labels, you may not be able to estimate much you are spending on energy, and as such, you may miss out on incredible opportunities to save some money.
Know when the Design of the Appliance Matters
Modern appliances such as refrigerators are now available in different styles with varying energy efficiencies. One important thing which should be noted, however, is that the energy efficiency may vary from one model to another based on the design. For example, refrigerators with freezers on the bottom or on the top are considered to be more energy efficient than their counterparts with side by side doors.
Additionally, units with extra features such as water dispensers and ice makers may also increase the overall consumption of the unit, though they are of great convenience. Therefore, while you consider your appliance options, also take into account that the specific designs may sometimes have an impact in the overall energy efficiency of the appliance.
Think about Smart Appliances
The allure of smart appliances may be strong – they are classic, trendy, promise to make your life easier and also give you the assurance that you will not be making a lot of appliance repair calls due to their smooth operations. But in addition to these conveniences, smart appliances may be a worthy consideration if you are thinking about saving energy at home. This is because most smart appliances nowadays include programmable energy management systems which will give you a great deal of control of on how much energy is consumed by the appliance.
For example, a smart dishwasher or refrigerator will feature a programmable thermostat that will give you the power to set how energy efficient you want the appliance to operate. With such, you can switch between low heat settings and high heat settings depending on the current application or what you desire at that moment.
Cheap is Expensive
Every time you buy an appliance, you should always know that there are two costs involved – the actual price and the maintenance price. In most cases, the cheaper the appliance, the more expensive the operating and appliance maintenance costs will be. Energy efficient appliances are not always cheap, but they also come with the added advantage that in addition to helping you save energy, you won’t be bothered with high maintenance and operational costs or have to call the appliance repair technicians from time to time because of regular breakdowns. Always remember that cheap will be expensive in the long run.
