Appliances are put into place, plugged in, turned on, and unless they stop working, there isn't much thought about appliances and electronics when it comes to energy use. However, they consume more energy than you might think. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that in a typical U.S. home, appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20 percent of energy bills.
When you replace appliances, look for the Energy Star® seal to ensure you get an efficient model. Click here to find eligible Energy Star products.
- Set at 50 percent Relative Humidity.
- Clean coils annually in the Spring.
- Clean air filter weekly.
- Do not locate near standing water source (i.e. sump pump pit).
- Use it. Did you know it takes less water to wash a load of dishes in the dishwasher (about 10 gallons) than to wash them by hand (about 16 gallons)?
- Run a full load. The one time it’s OK to pile dirty dishes in the sink—when you’re trying to accumulate enough to fill the washer.
- Shorten the cycle. Don’t select the drawn-out “pots and pans” cycle if you’re only cleaning plates, glasses and silverware.
- Air-dry dishes. Skip the drying cycle altogether, and let dishes air out naturally.
- If you’re not using it, shut it off. This applies to TVs, radios, computers and any other device that plugs in.
- Unplug electronics when you go on vacation. If you plan to be away from home for longer than a day or two, unplug everything. Radios, cell phone chargers, TVs and other appliances draw electricity whenever they’re plugged in (even if they’re turned off).
- Tell your computer to “sleep.” Adjust the settings on your computer to enter hibernation mode after five or 10 minutes of no activity.
- Buy more energy-efficient electronics. Choose items with the Energy Star seal.
- Clean it. Regularly defrost models that aren’t frost-free, and clean the condenser coils of your refrigerator three or four times a year. (Don’t forget the refrigerator or freezer in your garage.)
- Shut the door. Don’t stand in front of an open fridge contemplating the contents. Decide what you need first, then get it and shut the door quickly.
- Fill the freezer. A freezer that’s two-thirds or three-quarters full requires less power to operate than an empty one. No food? Add water-filled plastic milk cartons or soda bottles instead.
- Test the seals. Fold a paper towel, shut the refrigerator door on it and then pull the towel out of the closed door. If you don’t feel resistance, you probably need new seals around the door to lock in cold air.
- Maintain the right temperature. Set the refrigerator between 38 degrees and 42 degrees (a little higher than the middle setting). For the freezer, anywhere between 0 degrees and 32 degrees is fine.
- Preheat selectively. Baked goods may require a preheated oven to come out just right, but other foods don’t. Skip this step when you’re cooking a main dish or warming up a casserole.
- Pick the right-sized pan. Don’t waste electricity with a pot or pan that’s too tiny for the burner, or that’s too big or bulky for the amount of food you’re cooking.
- Try heat-conducting pots and pans. Ceramic, glass and stainless steel cookware retain more heat, which means you can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees.
- Cover it. Intensify the heat in your cooking pan with a lid. Remember, water in a covered pan comes to a boil faster.
- Turn off the oven and burners early. Since electric burners stay piping hot for awhile after you shut them off, try hitting that switch several minutes sooner. The food will continue to cook without eating up any energy.
- Close the door. The oven loses about 25 degrees of heat every time you open the door. Instead, set a timer to gauge when the food is done. Or, switch on the oven light and take a peek through the glass.
- Befriend the toaster oven. It’s a smart choice for small meals and snacks. Why? These miniature ovens use as much as 50 percent less energy than the full-sized versions.
- Don’t run small loads. Instead, wait until your laundry pile is large enough to fill the machine.
- Wash everything in cold. Unless you’re cleaning dirty towels or baby diapers, cool water will do the job. If you want, try a detergent specially formulated for cold water, but it’s not necessary.
- Pre-treat stains. The more you can do to remove stains and heavy soil beforehand, the less likely you’ll need to wash a second time.
- Shorten the cycle. Cutting wash time from 15 minutes to seven minutes saves about 25 percent of the electricity needed to run your washer.
- Don’t over-dry. Select the cool-down cycle so clothes finish drying with just residual heat. If your dryer has a moisture sensor, use it to automatically stop the machine when clothes are water-free.
- Hang a clothesline. Anytime you can dry clothes outside instead of in the dryer, that’s free solar power!