The price of energy is going up all the time, and you're probably looking for ways to save on your house bills. As it turns out, your least favorite room may be one of your biggest energy hogs. I'm talking about the laundry room.
Now, you can save all sorts of money if you're willing to stop washing your clothes, but I'm guessing you're not looking to go that route (and all the folks you work with appreciate that). Let's take a look at some more practical ways you can save money in the laundry room.
1. Avoid washers and dryers with lots of fancy features.
If you're shopping for a new washer and dryer, stick to the basics. More expensive machines may have extra cycles, electronic control panels, and other fancy features, but they don't wash clothes any better than basic units. Those perks usually just add to the operating cost of the machine. (Not to mention, more doohickeys means more doohickeys that can break, requiring the hiring of a repairman...)
2. Use cold water.
A hot water load uses four times as much energy as a cold water load. You may want to do your whites in hot, but towels and linens are fine in cold. Actually, the majority of your clothes are fine done in cold water, unless they're very dirty (just make sure to use liquid detergent, as some powders only dissolve in very hot water).
3. Don't use "warm-rinse" cycles.
Many of the washers on the market today feature warm-rinse cycles. According to experts (yes, there really are laundry experts), you never need warm water to rinse your clothes, and you can waste $50+ a year on this feature.
4. Nice day? Dry your clothes outside.
Hanging a clothesline between two trees won't cost you anything beyond the initial investment of a package of clothespins from the dollar store.
5. Clean the lint trap.
Assuming suggestion #4 didn't fly for you, and you're sticking to your dryer, at least make sure you clean out the lint trap after every load. The dryer actually has to work harder, thus using more energy, when the trap is full.
6. Don't use the maximum dryer setting.
Unless you're doing a load of towels or other hard-to-dry items, don't use the dryer's maximum setting. A middle setting (between minimum and maximum) works fine for most clothes. In addition, it saves you pennies a load, which adds up to hundreds of dollars over the life of your dryer.
Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts
Monday, January 23, 2012
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
How to buy a green Fridge Freezer
Many items that we take for granted in the home have undergone major design changes in recent years. Our understanding of those changes has sometimes failed to keep pace. Take the humble fridge freezer, for example. How should you go about examining the features of the various models that are available.
To begin with, you need to understand the various features that are advertised by sales people in high street stores or described online. In the UK all fridge freezers are given an energy rating for starters but what do these ratings really mean?
Fridge freezers will probably be one of the largest users of energy in your home - possibly second only to your central heating. This may come as a surprise!
The reason why fridge freezers use so much energy is because they are switched on all the time - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Having an energy inefficient fridge freezer not only costs you money but also has an environmental impact.
Until the last 5 years or so many popular brands were extremely inefficient. The new energy ratings, however, aim to show the consumer how various machines compare. They also help to name and shame brands who do not take the environment seriously.
The ratings scheme grades every fridge freezer on the market, with an A++ rating being the most energy efficient rating available. The ratings scheme then moves down to A+, A, B and C (with C being the least environmentally friendly).
So, put simply, aim for an A++ or an A+ energy rating if you want to be kind to the environment, while also saving some money on your electricity bills.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Can you really save 40% on your electricity bills by plugging a small box into your AC socket?
Copyright 2006 Martin Pavion
In the past six month a number of products have been advertised on TV and online which seem too good to be true. I’d like to explain the reality of these exciting claims and give you a layman’s understanding of how Power Savers work.
A Power Saver is a device which you plug in to your power socket. Apparently just by keeping the device connected it will immediately reduce your power consumption. Typical claims are savings between 25% and 40%.
The technology behind Power Saver units comes from German research coupled with Asian manufacturing and it is based on sound scientific principles.
Electricity is not stable. When electricity flows the voltage can rise and fall all the time. The rises in voltage are known as ‘spikes’ and they cannot be used by your appliances at all. All these spikes do is waste your electricity. These power spikes also convert electrical energy into heat energy which leaks power from your circuit. Not only that but the heat will also do long-term danage to your wiring and to your appliances.
There are a few Power Saver models on the market but they all work along the same principle. They store the electricity inside of it using a system of capacitors and they release it in a smoother way to normal without the spikes. The systems also automatically remove carbon from the circuit which also encourages a smoother electrical flow. This means that you will have less power spikes. More of the electricity flowing around your circuit can be used to power your appliances than before.
There are many factors which do affect the efficiency of your Power Saver. The device works immediately after plugging it in although it can take as long as 8 days before it has adjusted itself for peak performance. The rate of savings will depend on what kind of appliances you have connected. All appliances are different but expect savings of up to 25% on lights, 30% on air-conditioning units and up to 35% on other appliances.
The highest savings will be in areas where voltage supply is less stable. Locations close to shops, restaurants and light industries tend to gain additional savings from Power Saver devices.
So how can you be sure that your Power Saver is working correctly?
Most often Power Savers come fitted with a light to indicate that it is working. If you have access to an electricity meter then you should see it immediately slowing down. Assuming that the light is on and that you leave the device unattended you can expect savings immediately. Be aware that often electricity companies will not take meter readings each month. Often bills are calculated on monthly averages which self-correct over time so please be aware of that in using your bill as a guide.
Finally, it is highly recommended to order your Power Savers from companies offering 100% guarantees for longer than 30 days. Remember that 30 days may not be sufficient time to truly know if the device is working as effectively as you expect. Try to work with companies that extend their guarantee dates to at least 60 day which gives you a much longer period to assess the benefits.
In the past six month a number of products have been advertised on TV and online which seem too good to be true. I’d like to explain the reality of these exciting claims and give you a layman’s understanding of how Power Savers work.
A Power Saver is a device which you plug in to your power socket. Apparently just by keeping the device connected it will immediately reduce your power consumption. Typical claims are savings between 25% and 40%.
The technology behind Power Saver units comes from German research coupled with Asian manufacturing and it is based on sound scientific principles.
Electricity is not stable. When electricity flows the voltage can rise and fall all the time. The rises in voltage are known as ‘spikes’ and they cannot be used by your appliances at all. All these spikes do is waste your electricity. These power spikes also convert electrical energy into heat energy which leaks power from your circuit. Not only that but the heat will also do long-term danage to your wiring and to your appliances.
There are a few Power Saver models on the market but they all work along the same principle. They store the electricity inside of it using a system of capacitors and they release it in a smoother way to normal without the spikes. The systems also automatically remove carbon from the circuit which also encourages a smoother electrical flow. This means that you will have less power spikes. More of the electricity flowing around your circuit can be used to power your appliances than before.
There are many factors which do affect the efficiency of your Power Saver. The device works immediately after plugging it in although it can take as long as 8 days before it has adjusted itself for peak performance. The rate of savings will depend on what kind of appliances you have connected. All appliances are different but expect savings of up to 25% on lights, 30% on air-conditioning units and up to 35% on other appliances.
The highest savings will be in areas where voltage supply is less stable. Locations close to shops, restaurants and light industries tend to gain additional savings from Power Saver devices.
So how can you be sure that your Power Saver is working correctly?
Most often Power Savers come fitted with a light to indicate that it is working. If you have access to an electricity meter then you should see it immediately slowing down. Assuming that the light is on and that you leave the device unattended you can expect savings immediately. Be aware that often electricity companies will not take meter readings each month. Often bills are calculated on monthly averages which self-correct over time so please be aware of that in using your bill as a guide.
Finally, it is highly recommended to order your Power Savers from companies offering 100% guarantees for longer than 30 days. Remember that 30 days may not be sufficient time to truly know if the device is working as effectively as you expect. Try to work with companies that extend their guarantee dates to at least 60 day which gives you a much longer period to assess the benefits.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
10 Steps to Save on your Summer Energy Bill
Saving money on our summer energy bill is not only great for the family budget, but is also beneficial to the community. It takes only a few simple steps to cut your energy bill by as much as 20%-50%.
Saving energy doesn't have to be as painful as sunburn, nor does it have to cost much money or time. It has more to do with changing a few energy-wasting habits. And where costs are involved - such as having your cooling system checked annually by a professional - the expense can be offset by making your system more efficient and longer-lasting.
1.) Close draperies or shades during the day to block the sun.
2.) Keep cool air in by installing insulation and weather stripping.
3.) Cook on the grill to keep cooking heat outside. When using the stove, vent heat outside with a range hood.
4.) Use a microwave instead of an oven. Microwaves use less than half the power of a conventional oven and cook food in about one-fourth the time.
5.) Use the air-dry feature on dishwashers.
6.) Service air conditioners annually and change the filter regularly. Use a programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home, and turn air conditioners off when no one is home.
7.) Use cold water rather than hot when doing laundry. You will save about 85% of the energy it takes to wash clothes.
8.) Use washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers after 7pm when energy costs are lower in most places.
9.) Save energy by using the fast rather than slow spinning cycle when drying clothes, since the fast cycle removes more water.
10.) Switch to fluorescent lights that use on-third of the energy than incandescent lights.
Remember that appliances account for about 20% of your household's energy consumption. A new energy-efficient refrigerator could save from $35 to $70 a year compared to models of 15 years ago. This amounts to between $525 and $1,050 during the average 15-year life of the unit.
Remind your family of the steps, and implement them into your life.
Saving energy doesn't have to be as painful as sunburn, nor does it have to cost much money or time. It has more to do with changing a few energy-wasting habits. And where costs are involved - such as having your cooling system checked annually by a professional - the expense can be offset by making your system more efficient and longer-lasting.
1.) Close draperies or shades during the day to block the sun.
2.) Keep cool air in by installing insulation and weather stripping.
3.) Cook on the grill to keep cooking heat outside. When using the stove, vent heat outside with a range hood.
4.) Use a microwave instead of an oven. Microwaves use less than half the power of a conventional oven and cook food in about one-fourth the time.
5.) Use the air-dry feature on dishwashers.
6.) Service air conditioners annually and change the filter regularly. Use a programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home, and turn air conditioners off when no one is home.
7.) Use cold water rather than hot when doing laundry. You will save about 85% of the energy it takes to wash clothes.
8.) Use washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers after 7pm when energy costs are lower in most places.
9.) Save energy by using the fast rather than slow spinning cycle when drying clothes, since the fast cycle removes more water.
10.) Switch to fluorescent lights that use on-third of the energy than incandescent lights.
Remember that appliances account for about 20% of your household's energy consumption. A new energy-efficient refrigerator could save from $35 to $70 a year compared to models of 15 years ago. This amounts to between $525 and $1,050 during the average 15-year life of the unit.
Remind your family of the steps, and implement them into your life.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
How to buy a green Fridge Freezer
Many items that we take for granted in the home have undergone major design changes in recent years. Our understanding of those changes has sometimes failed to keep pace. Take the humble fridge freezer, for example. How should you go about examining the features of the various models that are available.
To begin with, you need to understand the various features that are advertised by sales people in high street stores or described online. In the UK all fridge freezers are given an energy rating for starters but what do these ratings really mean?
Fridge freezers will probably be one of the largest users of energy in your home - possibly second only to your central heating. This may come as a surprise!
The reason why fridge freezers use so much energy is because they are switched on all the time - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Having an energy inefficient fridge freezer not only costs you money but also has an environmental impact.
Until the last 5 years or so many popular brands were extremely inefficient. The new energy ratings, however, aim to show the consumer how various machines compare. They also help to name and shame brands who do not take the environment seriously.
The ratings scheme grades every fridge freezer on the market, with an A++ rating being the most energy efficient rating available. The ratings scheme then moves down to A+, A, B and C (with C being the least environmentally friendly).
So, put simply, aim for an A++ or an A+ energy rating if you want to be kind to the environment, while also saving some money on your electricity bills.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)