Switching to energy efficient appliances

Submitted by thebillreducer on Fri, 22/05/2009 - 01:53
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The current UK economic climate is forcing people to review every penny that they spend around the house, especially when it comes to heating the home and using electrical appliances.

As electricity prices have been rising significantly, in some cases as high as 40% in just over a year, any savings that can be made using electrical appliances will be welcomed. Changing electricity supplier could be one short-term solution, especially if you are currently paying the top tariffs. But, in the long term there also needs to be a change in the way that we use appliances around the home if savings are to be long-lasting and make a real impact.

Although cash is incredibly tight in a lot of households, big savings could be made by getting rid of old inefficient appliances and replacing them with modern, energy-saving models. Indeed, manufacturers recently introduced a system for displaying the efficiency of appliances, originally in an attempt to allow us to gauge the impact on global warming by use of that machine. However, the same scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) can also give a serious indication of how much it would cost to operate that appliance.

Many modern electrical appliances are more ‘intelligent’, fitted with processors capable of efficiently reducing the amount of power required to operate it, depending on the amount of work it is required to do. For example, eco-settings on dishwashers, washers and tumbler dryers allow for lighter bills as well as lessening the impact on the environment.

Many UK households use washers & dryers on almost a daily basis as clothes must be laundered. Unfortunately, extensive use of tumble dryers is probably one of the quickest ways to run up hefty electricity bills, especially during the day at peak price time for electricity units. More expensive machines tend to come with more energy-saving features, but although the initial outlay may be high, cost-savings over a number of years will pay back the investment.

The other great labour-saving device and one that is used regularly in UK kitchens is the dishwasher; although a great time-saver most machines run for a couple of hours per washing cycle. However, a household could save a considerable amount of money by using their dishwasher and indeed their washer & dryer at night, when electricity is considerably cheaper.

So, if you do decide to upgrade your appliances remember to look not only for the efficiency rating but also whether the appliance has a timer switch allowing you to use them at cheaper times and so help reduce your carbon footprint and the drain on your wallet.

Conserving energy and saving money: Water Heating

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 05/01/2010 - 11:50.

Heating water can make up as much as 25% of your home's energy consumption, which makes it a significant part of your household expenses. Simply reducing your hot water consumption will help to conserve energy and save money, but you can also lower the temperature of the water in your home by adjusting the thermostat on your water heater slightly lower.

Insulating water tanks and hot water pipes is a low-cost and effective way to reduce costs and conserve energy, as is installing a timer so your water is heated only during the periods when you need it. Solar water heaters produce hot water for free and the higher initial costs are offset over the long term. Tankless water heaters save energy by delivering hot water only on demand and can reduce energy consumption by up to 15%, although this type of water heater is more suited for small applications.