Archive for the ‘energy efficient refridgerators’ tag
Why Energy Efficient Refrigerators Save You Money
Energy efficient refrigerators can help you save a significant amount of money on each electricity bill you receive, because they are constantly switched on and in operation. Although you nay take it for granted and scarcely even think about it, the refrigerator is one of the most prolific users of electricity in domestic homes. The vast majority of homes have one, and because it is always switched on, it is using power constantly, usage which can be reduced with the right model.
The first and most obvious consideration when trying to reduce the power consumed by your refrigerator is to make sure it is not over-sized. There is so much emphasis placed on energy efficient building and design, the emission of CFC gases, and the other considerations that this simple but vital factor seems to be often overlooked. If you have fewer people in the house than before, or if a change of dietary habits has meant that you now eat less frozen food, there is likely to be a lot of empty space in your existing refrigerator. When you go to pick a replacement model, look for something smaller and more compact as you will not need the extra space.
Once you have decided on the type of model you need, you can being to compare different individual refrigerators to assess their power consumption. This has never been easy in the past, because although a wattage figure for power use was often quoted on promotional materials, it was never possible to know how high a setting you would need to keep the compartments at the right temperature. Now, labeling and disclosure are far better because manufacturers are trying to win business from the thousands of energy conscious consumers who are demanding efficient products.
The most energy efficient refrigerators are the ones which are compliant with the Energy Star standard, and these are clearly marked and labeled. Any comparison leaflet produced by a retailer should show you exactly what you are looking for, and so should any Internet shopping cart. You should even be able to replace your entire set of kitchen appliances with new energy efficient models to save even more money. Although the refrigerator is a prolific user of electricity because it is constantly in use, the stove uses far more power during the short period when it is switched on. Changing this to an Energy Star model can save you money consistently as well.
It is important to understand that energy efficiency and power consumption are not the only criteria on which you should select a refrigerator. The emission of CFC gases into the atmosphere is just as serious a form of pollution, if not even more so. These are the gases which affect the ozone layer of the Earth, and so are contributing greatly to the effect known as global warming. It is often not easy to spot at a glance which models are better than average at reducing CFC emissions, so carry out some research to be sure. Manufacturers which are conscious of the need to save energy will also be conscious of the need to reduce these emissions.
Buying energy efficient refrigerators is far easier than it was even a few short years ago, as labeling has greatly improved. One of the main reasons for this has been the introduction of the international Energy Star standards which make it easy for potential buyers to see what they will be getting. These markings should be easy to see on all retailer materials, and also on the Internet which is the best source of kitchen appliance shopping. You can find comparison tables which make it easy to buy energy efficient refrigerators.