Appliances can account for up to 30 per cent of your home energy use. As our reliance on appliances increases and energy prices are also on the rise, choosing energy-efficient appliances becomes more important. Also, the national standards for energy efficiency are improving the environmental performance of appliances all the time, so upgrading to a more efficient appliance can save you energy and money and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
It’s not only about having the right product—how you use appliances in your home can make a big difference. For example washing your clothes with cold water can save up to 10 times more energy than a warm wash.
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 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 some 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
Think about how you will dispose of your appliance whether you're updating or it's at the end of its life. Good working appliances can be re-used so contact your local charitable organisation for more information. Contact your local council for the best way to dispose of used appliances. Some companies offer a pick-up and recycling service to remove unwanted appliances.
Check Planet Ark's RecyclingNearYou website for companies that dismantle and recycle computers and other products.
