Appliances can account for up to 30 per cent of your home energy use. As our reliance on appliances increases and energy prices also go up, selecting energy-efficient products becomes more important.
It’s not only about having the right product - how you use appliances in your home can make a big difference. For example, switching to washing your clothes with cold water can save up to 4 times more energy than using a hot water wash.
It’s also important to look out for the most energy-efficient products. Due to national standards for energy efficiency, the environmental performance of appliances is improving all the time.
Buying energy-efficient appliances
When you replace an existing product, think about buying an energy-efficient appliance that is right for your needs.
The running costs of your appliance can add up to more than the initial purchase price and will impact on your electricity bill for years to come. Considering energy use in addition to purchase price and product features will save you money and energy as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions over time. A lot of new appliances and electronic equipment have energy rating labels to help you with this.
Using and maintaining your appliances
You can save money and reduce energy use by buying the right appliance for your needs and using it efficiently. The position of the appliance, how you operate it and how you maintain it all affect how much energy is used - for example, placing your refrigerator next to your oven will make it work harder to keep your food cold. Leaving appliances on standby unnecessarily will also waste energy.
Standby power
Home entertainment items and computers often have a standby mode so they can turn on quickly. However, standby mode can use a lot of energy even when the appliance isn't being used. Standby power is a key source of hidden energy costs that could amount to 10 per cent of your electricity bill. Australians spend more money to power home audio products when in standby than when actually in use.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if equipment is on or off. If you switch appliances off at the wall when you aren't using them, it guarantees that you will save energy.
Disposing of used appliances
Be sure to also think about how you will dispose of your appliance at the end of its life. Some companies offer a pick-up and recycling service to remove unwanted appliances when it’s time to replace them. You should contact your local council on the best way to dispose of used appliances.
Check Planet Ark's RecyclingNearYou for companies that dismantle and recycle computers and other products.
