Things You Can Do
The exciting thing about all of this stuff, is that there are things that everyone can do. For some things you need experts, but for others you don't. Check out a few of these things listed here and you can see that you can do things today that will make you more comfortable, save money and reduce your impact on Climate Change.
Appliances: Some are worth replacing now!
- Refridgerators older than 1996.
- Clothers washers that do not have a high speed spin cycle.
- Electric Water Heaters.
Efficiency Vermont has incentive programs for all of these items. Call if you need more information.
Appliances: Others
if you replace them, shop carefully! Make sure that they are at least Energy Star rated. There are many appliances that far exceed (in a good way) the Energy Star rating. You can compare appliances at www.energystar.gov.
Some simple facts from the Energy Star website.
- ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency.
- ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at least 15% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.
- Many ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models include automatic ice-maker and through-the-door ice dispensers. Qualified models are also available with top, bottom, and side-by-side freezers.
- ENERGY
STAR qualified freezer models use at least 10% less energy than
required by current federal standards. Qualified freezer models are
available in three configurations:
- upright freezers with automatic defrost
- upright freezers with manual defrost
- chest freezers with manual defrost only
- ENERGY STAR compact refrigerators and freezers use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards. Compacts are models with volumes less than 7.75 cubic feet.
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. In most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for nearly four months.
You may also be interested to know that you can reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator or freezer uses, whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR qualified model:
- Position your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.
- To allow air to circulate around the condenser coils, leave a space between the wall or cabinets and the refrigerator or freezer and keep the coils clean.
- Make sure the door seals are airtight.
- Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open.
- Recycle older or second refrigerators.