How to be Energy Efficient Across Your Major Home Appliances

Sonia Hwang
2019-11-06T11:30:00-05:00

As you already know, your appliances can drain a lot of energy and resources. But don’t fret! With technological advancements and some smart usage, you can reduce your consumption and increase your efficiency!
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There's a lot you can do to reduce your energy use and up your efficiency!

The major appliances Kelowna homeowners use nowadays are far more technologically advanced than older generations. Even in the past 20 years, the energy-saving features that have been adopted into appliances (including high-end!) have improved dramatically.

According to a study by Natural Resources Canada, appliances account for 14 per cent of the energy consumption in the average Canadian home. The research also compared the energy efficiency of household appliances manufactured in 1990 to those built more recently.

If you’re a typical homeowner, you might not pay attention to how much electricity and money your old appliances might cost you every month. With the right appliance upgrades and some energy-saving techniques, you’ll be able to have lower bills (and maybe splurge on some new appliances!)

It all starts with Energy Star ratings

Energy Star is a government-sponsored program that promotes energy-efficient appliances. These appliances typically use 20 to 30 per cent less than regular models, without sacrificing performance.

When you’re shopping for a new appliance, keep an eye out for the Energy Star sticker! Not only will your hydro bills be reduced in the long run, but you might also be able to cash in on some rebates! BC Hydro has more information that could save you even more money.

Laundry Appliances

Did you know that most modern electric clothes dryers use 17% less energy than dryers produced in the 1990s? It’s all thanks to advanced features that have been incorporated across the board.

If you have a newer appliance, moisture sensors help reduce wasted energy by stopping the cycle when the laundry is dry – as opposed to continuing until the cycle’s time is up! Additionally, many newer washers have improved load size and efficiency when using cold water. Less hot water means more savings for you!

More Laundry Energy Saving Tips:

1. Detergents now accommodate the green laundry movement and offer the same cleaning strength in cold water formulas. You’ll save so much energy not heating your laundry water.

2. Just like with your dishwasher, you can be more energy-efficient when you operate your clothes washer when you’re running full loads.

3. For the ultimate in savings, invest in an Energy Star approved washer. Some models use almost 100 litres less water than older washers! Plus, they extract more water in the spin stage, so you won’t have to use up the energy to dry your clothes as long.

4. In the summer, hang a laundry line or a rack in the sun. Your clothes will smell fresh and feel warm in no time. If you live in a condo where you’re not allowed to hang clothes on your balcony, try investing in a portable rack to set up in front of a sunny window. By morning, you might only need to let them have a quick tumble.

Dishwashers

Modern dishwasher performance has made leaps and bounds! From new sensor technology to more efficient rack and jet placement, many are at least 70 percent more efficient when compared to their outdated predecessors. Forget about doing dishes by hand, if you want to save time, energy, and water, an Energy Star dishwasher is for you!

Whether you’ve chosen to invest in a new appliance, or you still plan to make-do for a few more months, we’ve got some additional tips to help you lower those energy and water bills!

More dishwasher energy saving tips:

1. Explore the options on your dishwasher for drying and rinsing instead of using the auto settings. Use air dry instead heat dry, and employ the rinse hold and pre-rinse features. You can also just open the door so your dishes can air dry at no cost after the final rinse.

2. Always, always, only run your dishwasher when it’s full. Your dishwasher takes up heaps of energy just heating the water, but you can’t reduce the amount of water going in like you can on the clothes washer, so the best way to be efficient with your dishwasher is by waiting until its full to run it.

3. If you have a small household but you love the convenience of a dishwasher, consider a compact version for energy savings on small loads.

4. Check out tutorials online on the most efficient way to load your washer! You might be missing out on valuable space and cleaning power!

Refrigerators and Freezers

Are you one of the Okanagan locals who enjoys having a spare freezer in the garage? Modern refrigerators and freezers are up to 70% more energy efficient! You might want to consider an upgrade if you have an older one – either in the garage or your home.

More refrigeration energy saving tips:

1. If your kitchen layout will afford it, move your refrigerator away from the stove and any other appliances that generate heat. That way, your fridge won’t have to work as hard to keep its temperature cool. You can also move your fridge out of direct sunlight to see big savings over the course of a year.

2. If you need a new fridge, decide if you really need yours to dispense ice or cold water. While convenient, these features can increase your energy use by as much as 20 per cent.

3. Store less-perishable produce such as potatoes and onions somewhere cool in your basement to give your fridge a bit of a break but safely cool veggies.

4. Organization can do more than you’d expect! Keep your fridge in order to reduce the amount of work it takes to keep everything fresh – and keep your food fresher longer!

Cooking Appliances

Surprisingly, cooking appliances are the only major appliance that’s not included in the Energy Star program. This is because most modern ovens and ranges are as energy efficient as current technology can make them. But there are still some steps you can take to reduce your energy use!

Cooking appliance energy saving tips:

1. If you use the oven often, consider getting a convection oven. The continuous heat circulation can reduce the time taken to cook as well as reduce how hot the oven will need to get

2. Run your oven’s self-cleaning cycle (if you have one!) after you’ve used the oven, once per month. Since the oven will already be hot from use, it will take less energy for the cleaning cycle

3. If you love soup and stew, a slow cooker uses less energy overall if you need to cook all day!

4. Inspect your pots and pans. Flat-bottomed cookware has better contact with the range’s heating elements, which lets them heat up more efficiently. If your pots or pans are warped, it’ll take more energy (and time) to heat up

5. Use copper-bottom pots on the range and glass or ceramic in the oven. They’ll conduct the heat better, which will allow you to reduce the amount of heat needed

When you’re looking for an energy efficient appliance, Kelowna, Kamloops and Vernon homeowners turn to the trusted experts at Genier’s Appliances for the best service and selection.