GREENER APPLIANCES
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, one should replace appliances if they are 10 or 15 years older because most likely these older models are not energy efficient. However, if your big appliances are not older than that and they seem to work fine, how do you decide whether it is eco-friendlier to keep them or replace them?
Here is some information that may help you make that decision easier:
Dishwashers
- Energy Star recommends replacing models purchased previous to 1994 since more efficient model will save you water, electricity as well as heating costs.
- New Energy Star rated dishwashers use as little as 4 gallons of water per load as opposed to older models, which may use anywhere from 8 to 15 gallons per load.
- Give your dishwasher away instead of dumping it if it’s less than a decade old since a person hand-washing dishes uses far more water than your old appliance may.
- You may want to consider keeping it if it uses less than 8 gallons per load.
Washing Machines
- Energy Star rated models are 37% more efficient and use 7,000 gallons less water per year. Moreover, the front loading models are far better that the old-fashioned top-loaders.
- It’s advisable to replace a top-loading model since the new models will save you water (uses less water and wrings more water out of your clothes so the drying cycle lasts less as well), electricity and heating costs.
- It’s best to dispose of top-loading machines since they are simply not environmentally friendly to begin with.
Refrigerators
- As the biggest energy consumers in any household (use about 14% of total electricity), it’s most likely best to replace any refrigerators produced before 2001 and most definitely any models previous to 1994.
- If you decide to purchase a new one, consider getting a smaller size, depending on your family needs.
- Donate your model instead of throwing it away since there are people that can benefit form it (as long as it’s not older than 1994) and reduce their own carbon footprint this way.
Dryers
- Unfortunately, technology has not changed much as far as dryers are concerned so keep yours as long as it’s working. Despite the fact that dryers use 4% of total household’s electricity, the newer models available on the market will not bring you too much savings.
- The best thing for the environment and your wallet is to get a front-loading washing machine and line dry as much as possible.
- If you decide to go ahead and replace your dryer, donate it if it still works. It’s much better if it ends up in use somewhere else instead of in the landfill.
ALTERNATIVE FUEL CONVERSION KITS
photo credit: DJ Solitaire
It’s been a long time coming but with the economy in crisis and the gas prices on the rise (even though they are currently on the low, this trend will not last forever) and the increasing global demand for oil, it is only natural that technologies for converting conventional cars into ones using alternative fuels would find their ways to the market. And while the automotive giants are a bit slow to catch on to the trend, there are plenty of other companies all too happy to fill in the blanks.
Here are some of the more popular conversion kits available on the market:
- Flex Fuel US—with proper installation it gives drivers an option to alternate between ethanol and petrol, since the kit accommodates gasoline, E10, E20 and E85 for those who would like to have more than one option for their fuel sources.
- Hendrix Industrial Gastux Inc.—this company offers compressed natural gas and propane conversion kits that can be used with a number of various vehicles. However, they advise to have them installed by a professional.
- Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems—these kits use vegetable oil as a fuel source and unfortunately are used only with diesel engines.
If you decide to look for a conversion kit for you car, it is advisable to first examine the alternative fuels and find out which one will be the best for your needs. Then, you should also make sure that the kit provider and their technology are legitimate and that you use a professional to install the kit for you.
TIPS FOR LOWERING WINTER ENERGY COSTS
Fall is in full swing and before you know it, winter will be upon us and with that increased heating. This means more money spent on you electricity bill, especially since the costs of energy are on the rise and it doesn’t look like they will go down any time soon. However, winter doesn’t have to break your budget since there are a few easy steps you can take to prepare your home for the upcoming season of cold that not only will keep you and your family warm but save you money as well.
Here are a few tips for lowering your energy costs:
- Weatherproof you windows—by eliminating as many leaks as possible (for more tips on how to do it, go to “Weatherproof Your Windows”). Air getting inside you house through windows and doors contributes to a substantial heat loss during winter.
- Switch to CFLs—(if you haven’t yet). Because the days are shorter, we tend to have lights on for longer periods of time in winter, which adds to your electrical bill. However, if you replace your incandescent bulbs with the compact fluorescent ones, you will actually save money in the long run.
- Turn you thermostat down—turning down the heat while you’re away (e.g. at work, school etc) or sleeping will give you a nice return in just a few weeks.
- Have an energy audit—this will help you establish how much energy you use and where you can save it by learning how your house fares in various areas, e.g. whether your windows and doors are leaky, whether you water heater uses more energy than necessary and how you can lower it etc.
Implementing these few easy tricks will not only save you money (and who doesn’t like that?!) but make your winter a little less stressful…
KEEP YOUR WATER HEATER WARM…
Most of any household’s energy costs go to heating water, especially since the water heaters constantly heat water whether it is used or not. However, a substantial amount of is wasted when the heat is lost to the surrounding air, an occurrence known as standby heat loss. Therefore, keeping this from happening should be on your to-do list.
Insulating your water heater and reachable water pipes will not only reduce standby energy losses by 25% to 45% (4-9% in heating cost) but also keep 300 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere in the course of a year. And it could not be easier. Most hardware stores sell water heater insulating kits you can purchase for $10-20, which will repay for itself in a matter of few months. You should look for one with an insulating value of at least 8.
Before you go searching for an insulation kit, you should probable check what your water heater tank’s R-value is since anything around R-24 does not need any insulation. You can check your tank’s R-value by simply touching it. If it feels warm to the touch, then it needs additional insulation.
And lastly, make sure you get the proper insulation kit for your water heater tank depending whether it is electric or gas. If you decide to install it yourself, make sure you follow instruction very carefully, especially with the gas heaters. And if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, you may want to consider hiring a professional.
WEATHERPROOF YOUR WNDOWS
photo credit: Salim Virji
Nearly 50% of all household energy use is attributed to heating and cooling but improperly sealed windows may cause your house to loose almost a third of the hot or cool air. Thus, it is quite important to check your windows and make sure they do not leak air and are properly insulated to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
The best long-term solution is replacing your windows with the Energy Star ones, however if the $100-$300 per window is out of your price range, there are a few easy steps you can take to weatherproof your windows and increase your home’s efficiency:
- Seal the cracks in the wood frame and surrounding siding with caulk.
- Check your glazing, which holds window panes in place, and replace it if necessary.
- Install weather stripping, which helps to keep the cold air out by creating a seal around the windows.
- If you live in a harsh climate, install storm windows that will keep the air from coming in.
- Hang curtains or draperies. Not only do they provide an esthetic element but keep the hot air in the summer form seeping in and in the winter from leaking out.
- If you’re renting your home and cannot implement some of the changes, you can still keep your home warm in the upcoming winter months by purchasing and installing a plastic window insulation kit available in most hardware stores (costs less than $10 for 5 standard windows or one extra large one).