Saving Energy & Money at Home -Page 6 - Appliances, Car, Home & Office

Major Appliance Shopping Guide

This easy-to-read guide may help you understand how appliances are rated for efficiency, what the ratings mean, and what to look for while shopping for new appliances.

Appliances	Rating	Special Considerations
Natural Gas and Oil Systems	Look for the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) EnergyGuide label with an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating for natural gas- and oil-fired furnaces and boilers. The AFUE measures the seasonal or annual efficiency. ENERGY STAR furnaces have a 90 AFUE or higher.	Bigger is not always better! Too large a system costs more and operates inefficiently. Have a professional assess your needs and recommend the type and size of system you should purchase.
Air-Source Heat Pumps	Look for the EnergyGuide label that lists the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) for heat pumps. The SEER measures the energy efficiency during the cooling season and HSPF measures the efficiency during the heating season. The ENERGY STAR minimum efficiency level is 13 SEER or higher.	If you live in a cool climate, look for a heat pump with a high HSPF. ENERGY STAR heat pumps are about 20% more efficient than standard models. Contact a professional for advice on purchasing a heat pump.
Central Air Conditioners	Look for the EnergyGuide label with a SEER for central air conditioners. The ENERGY STAR minimum efficiency level is 13 SEER.	Air conditioners that bear the ENERGY STAR label may be 25% more efficient than standard models. Contact a professional for advice on sizing a central air system.
Room Air Conditioners	Look for the EnergyGuide label with an EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) for room air conditioners. The higher the EER, the more efficient the unit is. ENERGY STAR units are among the most energy-efficient products.	What size to buy?
		Area in square feet 100 to 150 150 to 250 250 to 350 350 to 450 400 to 450 450 to 550 550 to 700 700 to 1,000	Btu/hour 5,000 6,000 7,000 9,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 18,000	Two major factors should guide your purchase: correct size and energy efficiency. If the room is very sunny, increase capacity by 10%. If the unit is for a kitchen, increase the capacity by 4,000 Btu per hour.

Appliances	Rating	Special Considerations
Programmable Thermostats	For minimum ENERGY STAR efficiency, thermostats should have at least two programs, four temperature settings each, a hold feature that allows users to temporarily override settings, and the ability to maintain room temperature within 2ºF of desired temperature.	Look for a the ENERGY STAR label and a thermostat that allows you to easily use two separate programs, one that can be programmed to reach the desired temperature at a specific time, and a hold feature that temporarily overrides the setting without deleting the preset programs.
Water Heaters	Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much energy the water heater uses in one year. Also, look for the FHR (first hour rating) of the water heater, which measures the maximum hot water the heater will deliver in the first hour of use. ENERGY STAR labeled water heaters available January 2009.	If you typically need a lot of hot water at once, the FHR will be important to you. Sizing is important—call your local utility for advice.
Windows	Look for the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) label that provides U-values and SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) values. The lower the U-value, the better the insulation.	Look at the Climate Region Map on the ENERGY STAR label to be sure that the window, door, or skylight you have selected is appropriate for where you live.
Refrigerators and Freezers	Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much electricity, in kWh, the refrigerator will use in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy it uses. ENERGY STAR refrigerators use at least 20% less energy than required by federal standards.	Look for energy-efficient refrigerators and freezers. Refrigerators with freezers on top are more efficient than those with freezers on the side. Also look for heavy door hinges that create a good door seal.
Dishwashers	Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much electricity, in kWh, the dishwasher will use in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy it uses. ENERGY STAR dishwashers use at least 41% less energy than required by federal standards.	Look for features that will reduce water use, such as booster heaters and smart controls. Ask how many gallons of water the dishwasher uses during different cycles. Dishwashers that use the least amount of water will cost the least to operate.
Clothes Washers	Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much electricity, in kWh, the clothes washer will use in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy is uses. ENERGY STAR clothes washers use less than 50% of the energy used by standard washers.	Look for the following design features that help clothes washers cut water usage: water level controls, “suds-saver” features, spin cycle adjustments, and large capacity. For double the efficiency, buy an ENERGY STAR unit.

Home Office and Home Electronics

In the U.S., nearly 4.2 million people worked from home in 2000, up from 3.4 million in 1990. Working from home saves energy and time by cutting out the commute, but it may increase your home energy bills a lot unless you use energy-saving office equipment.

ENERGY STAR labeled office equipment is widely available: it provides users with dramatic savings, as much as 90% savings for some products. Overall, ENERGY STAR labeled office products use about half the electricity of standard equipment. Along with saving energy directly, this equipment can reduce air-conditioning loads, noise from fans and transformers, and electromagnetic field emissions from monitors.

Home Office Tips

• Selecting energy-efficient office equipment—personal computers (PCs), monitors, copiers, printers, and fax machines—and turning off machines when they are not in use can result in enormous energy savings.

• An ENERGY STAR labeled computer uses 70% less electricity than computers without this designation. If left inactive, ENERGY STAR labeled desktop computers enter a sleep mode and use 4 watts or less.

Spending a large portion of time in low-power mode not only saves energy, but helps equipment run cooler and last longer.

• To maximize savings with a laptop, put the AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off (or will turn off automatically); the transformer in the AC adapter draws power continuously, even when the laptop is not plugged into the adapter.

• Common misconceptions sometimes account for the failure to turn off equipment. Many people believe that equipment lasts longer if it is never turned off. This incorrect perception carries over from the days of older mainframe computers.

• ENERGY STAR labeled computers and monitors save energy only when the power management features are activated, so make sure power management is activated on your computer.

• There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce energy use by monitors; they do not. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off is always the better energy-saving strategy.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip

• Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktop computers.

Home Electronics Tips

• Look for energy-saving ENERGY STAR labeled home electronics.

• Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These “phantom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. These phantom loads can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.

• Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use.

• Studies have shown that using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and PDAs is more cost effective than throwaway batteries. If you must use throaways, check with your trash removal company about safe disposal options.

Shop for ENERGY STAR Products for Offic Energy Efficiency Tips

Computers
Copiers
Fax Machines
Monitors
Multifunction Devices
(fax, scanner, copier)
Printers
Scanners

Keep Your Home Office Efficient with ENERGY STAR

energy saving power strips Home offices are increasingly popular. Be sure to use ENERGY STAR office equipment to save electricity.

Cordless Phones
Televisions
VCRs and DVD Players
Combination Units (TV/VCR; TV/DVD)
Home Audio
Set-Top Boxes

Smart power strips help save wasted energy.

Driving and Car Maintenance

Transportation accounts for 67% of U.S. oil use—mainly in the form of gasoline. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to improve gas mileage.

Driving Tips

• Idling gets you 0 miles per gallon. The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. No more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days is needed. Anything more simply wastes fuel and increases emissions.

• Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking) wastes gas. It can lower your highway gas mileage 33% and city mileage 5%.

• Avoid high speeds. Above 60 mph, gas mileage drops rapidly.

• Clear out your car; extra weight decreases gas mileage by 1% to 2% for every 100 pounds.

• Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to buy a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5% or more.

• Check into telecommuting, carpooling and public transit to cut mileage and car maintenance costs.

Car Maintenance Tips

• Use the grade of motor oil recommended by your car’s manufacturer. Using a different motor oil can lower your gasoline mileage by 1% to 2%.

• Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3%.

• Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks to avoid fuel economy problems due to worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid, or transmission problems.

• Replace clogged air filters to improve gas mileage by as much as 10% and protect your engine.

• Combine errands into one trip. Several short trips, each one taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip

• Consider buying a highly fuel-efficient vehicle. A fuel- efficient vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an alternative fuel vehicle could save you a lot at the gas pump and help the environment. See the Fuel Economy Guide (www.fueleconomy.gov) for more on buying a new fuel-efficient car or truck.

Renewable Energy

You have many options for using renewable energy at home—from solar-powered outdoor lights to buying renewable energy from your utility to even producing solar electricity at home with photovoltaic (PV) cells.

Renewable Energy Tips

• A new home provides the best opportunity for designing and orienting the home to take advantage of the sun’s rays. A well-oriented home admits low-angle winter sun to reduce heating bills and rejects overhead summer sun to reduce cooling bills. See the Heating and Cooling section for more about using passive solar energy in your home.

• Many U.S. consumers buy electricity made from renewable energy sources like the sun, wind, water, plants, and Earth’s internal heat. This power is sometimes called “green power.” Buying green power from the utility is one of the easiest ways to use renewable energy without having to invest in equipment or take on extra maintenance.

• Another use of solar power is for heating water. Solar water heating is covered in the Water Heating section on page 16. If you have a swimming pool or hot tub, you can use solar power to cut pool heating costs. Most solar pool heating systems are cost competitive with conventional systems. And solar pool systems have very low operating costs. It’s actually the most cost-effective use of solar energy.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip

• If you’ve made your home as energy efficient as possible, and you have very high electricity bills and a good solar resource, you might want to consider generating your own electricity using PV cells. New products are available that integrate PV cells with the roof, making them much less visible than older systems.

If the following conditions apply, you might want to do more research to see if investing in PV is right for you:

• Your site has adequate solar resources.

• A grid connection is not available in your area or can be made only through an expensive power line extension.

• You are willing to pay more up front to reduce the environmental impact of your electricity use.

• Your power provider will connect your system to the electricity grid and buy any excess power you produce.

• Your state, city, or utility offers rebates, tax credits, or other incentives. Visit www.dsireusa.org to find out about financial incentives in your area.

Energy Saving Efficiency Audit Tips Solar-Powered Outdoor Lighting

Installing solar lighting around your home and garden is quick and easy with an added bonus—no wires or electricity costs!

References

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy www.aceee.org/consumer/

Census Bureau Press Release, Information on Home Workers October 20, 2004. CB04-183.

DOE Building America www.BuildingAmerica.gov

DOE Building Technologies Program www.buildings.energy.gov

DOE Building Technologies Program, 2007 Buildings Energy Databook buildingsdatabook.eere.energy.gov

DOE Consumer Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy www.eere.energy.gov/consumer

DOE/EPA Fuel Economy Guide www.fueleconomy.gov

DOE Energy Information Administration Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2005 www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/contents.html

ENERGY SAVERS www.energysavers.gov

ENERGY STAR^® www.energystar.gov

Home Energy Magazine www.homeenergy.org

Rocky Mountain Institute Home Energy Briefs www.rmi.org

Wilson, Alex; Thorne, Jennifer; Morrill, John. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, 8th Edition. 2003. Washington, D.C.: ACEEE

NOTICE: This booklet was prepared by an agency of the United States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof.

Visit www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/ to order booklets, download the PDF, and view the booklet online.

Produced for the

U.S. Department of Energy,

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585

by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a DOE National Laboratory

October 2008

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Energy Saving Tips from the DOE Page 6