How to choose the best energy-efficient household appliances
Going green is very on-trend at the moment, with many of us doing all we can to minimise our plastic use and the size of our eco-footprints. However, when it comes to appliances, most of us would rather save money than save the planet. New research from finder.com.au found that 41 per cent of us don’t really care about energy ratings when hitting the shops for new appliances.
Rather, it seems the price tag is more important to Aussies – and understandably so. With the rising cost of living, it’s hard to justify spending big on an energy-efficient appliance, when you could get a cheaper version that does the same thing. However, investing in energy-efficient appliances can actually save you money in the long run because they can drastically reduce the size of your electricity bill.
Most people’s biggest concern is that they won’t be able to afford their electricity, and 34 per cent of us have cut down on our energy usage to deal with these big bills. Purchasing appliances that use less energy is a great way to simultaneously minimise your energy bill and be kinder to the environment.
Here are some tips to help you choose the most energy-efficient appliances for your household.
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Check the energy rating label
To make it easier to sort the energy-saving appliances from the energy guzzlers, the government puts an Energy Rating Label on all new appliances. This label gives all appliances a rating out of six stars. The more stars, the more energy efficient the appliance is (and the more you’ll save on your electricity bill).
This label will also tell you how much energy an appliance uses each year in kilowatt hours (kWh). The lower this number is, the less energy the appliance uses. Remember to compare the Energy Rating Label of appliances that are a similar size, otherwise you’ll end up comparing apples with oranges, which could be a costly mistake!
This label is very helpful when deciding which appliance best meets your needs and budget, however, ways to save don’t stop there. Below, we’ve also listed some factors to think about before you purchase any major household appliance.
Fridges & freezers
- Pick a size that suits your needs. Remember, the bigger it is, the more electricity your fridge will use!
- Don’t buy fancy extras (such as a water/ice dispenser on the fridge door) unless you really need them. These features increase the energy consumption of your appliance.
- Try to find a fridge with a door alarm to avoid accidentally leaving the fridge open.
- Make sure there is enough space between your fridge and the surrounding walls to allow air to ventilate freely, and make sure to clean out your fridge’s vacuum coils at least once a year to minimise how hard you appliance has to work to maintain a cool and consistent temperature.
- Place your fridge somewhere that is out of direct sunlight and not near any heat-generating appliances, such as stoves and ovens, so that its temperature can be maintained and it won’t have to work too hard to cool down.