10 Next Steps to Green
The journey toward an energy-efficient lifestyle begins with small yet significant steps—changing light bulbs and fixing leaks—then makes great strides with larger home-improvements investments. When your kitchen appliances, bath fixtures, and other home components give out or exceed their typical life expectancy, it's a good chance for you to go green in a big way. Consider these high-impact changes.
1) Bath- Sink Faucet
A faucet that drips once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year. Replacing the washer or O-ring is one solution, but a new faucet is a better option. Older faucets—especially those purchased before 1994 can flow at the rate of 3-7 gallons per minute; the current federal law requires all new faucets have a maximum flow rate of 2.2 gallons per minute.
BUYING TIP: Look for the WaterSense label, a water-efficiency designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). High efficiency faucets and faucet aerators will reduce water flow by more than 30 percent.
2) Toilet
Toilets use as much as 7 gallons per flush before a federal mandate took effect in 1994. Early low-flow toilets generated complaints about performance, but design advance make now the time to buy. Redesigned bowls and large drain passages use only 1.6 gallons for a clean flush. Dual systems even allow users the choice of flushing with .9 gallons or the full 1.6, depending on how much water is needed.
Buying Tips: the WaterSense label on a high efficiency toilet indicates it uses 20 percent less
3) Showerhead
Like toilets low-flow showerheads have improved over earlier models. New units produce larger water droplets delivered at high velocity, providing the sensation of high water flow. Meanwhile, your water use is cut in half.
BUYING TIP: choose a showerhead with a dual-control lever or other feature that lets you adjust the flow from the current standard 2.5 gallons per minute to less than 2 gallons per minute.
4) Refrigerator/Freezer
When retiring your refrigerator—typically the biggest energy hog in the kitchen—choose a replacement with a high- efficiency compressor, thick insulation, and precise temperature controls. All of these features are found on models that bear the Energy Star label, which indicates that appliances and other products meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the U.S. department of Energy. Energy Star-qualified refrigerators use less than half the electricity of comparable models sold before 1993.
BUYING TIP: in general, top-mount and bottom-mount freezers are more efficient than side-by-side models, and a unit with a through-the-door icemaker uses more energy than one without. However, other factors—such as size and defrost type—make it best to compare individual models and consider desired features.
5) Cooktop
Gas ranges have the longest life expectancy among home appliances but the lowest efficiency; only 55 percent of the energy uses goes directly toward cooking the food. Electric ranges, on the other hand, are 80 percent efficient. There is currently no Energy Star designation for cooktops, ovens, ranges or microwaves, but if you’re intrigued by the newest thing in cooking, you may want to consider a magnetic induction Cooktop. This Cooktop creates an electromagnetic field of energy that heats only iron or steel and has no exposed coil, open flame, or heated surface. It’s 90 percent efficient and produces virtually instant heat only to the pan, which makes it convenient and easy to control. The upfront cost can be double that of a conventional Cooktop, and if you don’t have iron or steel cookware, you’ll need to invest in that too.
BUYING TIP: gas burners with standing pilots, rather than electric ignition, can more than double the annual energy consumption of your Cooktop, according to the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy. For more tips see aceee.org
6) Dishwasher
Today’s dishwasher are quieter and more energy efficient than older models, making them good candidates for replacement. Choose a water-conserving model; the less water used, the less it will cost to heat. Depending on local rates, energy saving can be up to $65 per year, so buying a more expensive but efficient model will save you in the long run.
BUYING TIP: choose a model with a light-use (quick wash) cycle to save time, energy and, water. Other handy, energy-saving features include a no-heat drying option and a delay-start control, which allows you to avoid peak-energy times.
7) Washer and Dryer
You can gain a dramatic savings with Energy Star-qualified washing machines:
$550 in energy and water costs over the appliance’s lifetime. Energy-efficienct washers offer multiple options in water levels and temperatures. Front loaders use the least water and electricity: next best are high-efficency top-loaders with new wash systems.
BUYING TIP: the best energy-efficiency feature on a dryer is a moisture sensor that shuts off the machine when the clothes are dry.
8) Water Heater
Heating water conventionally is the third largest home energy expense. When your water heater nears the end of its useful life, you can realize long-term savings with a new system. A tankless heater cost about $800 uninstalled and will save you 50 percent in operating costs. A solar water heating system will cost $2,500-$3,500 installed. It’ll save 50-80 percent and insulate you from any rise in energy prices.
BUYING TIP: Compare water heater by their major advantages: Tank water heaters cost the least initially; properly sized tankless units provide an unlimited supply of hot water; heat pump water heaters are the most efficient electric option; and solar water heaters offer the largest energy savings by using a renewable energy source. See epa.gov for a comparison fact sheet.
9) Windows
Replacing windows is one of the most expensive home improvements, but anyone who’s lived in a house with drafty windows will appreciate the benefits of today’s options. You can reduce your energy bill by up to 15 percent, according to Energy Star. Look for double or even triple panes of glass (sometimes filled with argon gas, which acts as insulation), low-emissivity (low-E) glass, and warm edge spacers that reduce heat flow and prevent condensation.
BUYING TIP: Federal tax credits for energy-efficient windows expired at the end of 2007, but many states offer rebates. Visit dsireusa.org.
10) Heating and Air Conditioning
When your furnace, boiler or air conditioner enters the 12 to 15 year age range, Energy Star guidelines recommend replacement as soon as possible, with a new, more efficient unit. If local temperatures aren’t extreme, a geothermal heat pump, which uses the earth’s constant temperature, is an excellent energy-saving choice (see geoexchange.us for more information). But any system that’s Energy Star-certified can save 20-30 percent on heating and cooling costs.
BUYING TIP: proper sizing is essential when replacing your HVAC system. Ask your heating and cooling contractor if buying a more efficient system will make a smaller-size unit possible, saving on initial cost and future utility bills.
©April 2008 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS®
|
