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How's this for a win-win opportunity: help save the planet while keeping more cash in your own pocket.
How can you pull off this double coup? First, by realizing that major home appliances add up to a whopping 20% to the energy bill in the average Canadian household. Next, by minimizing the kilowatts each of your own gizmos gobbles.
And no groaning about the difficulty of becoming an environmental do-gooder, because it's surprisingly simple to become an "energy star" -- as the following tips demonstrate.
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Clothes washer:
Energy Star-rated washers use 50% less energy and 35-50% less water than other models. That means that compared with units manufactured before 1994, they can shave up to $110 per year off your utility bill. And front-loading washers use about 40% less water per load and 50% less energy than top-loaders.
Refrigerator:
The cost of having a non-Energy Star-qualified fridge is about $150 a year more than you really need to spend. Set the fridge temperature no lower than 0.7-3.3 C. Position it away from direct sunlight and heat sources such as ovens and dishwashers.
Dishwasher:
You can save at least 25% more electricity with Energy Star-rated models, which have sensors to calculate the length of washing cycles and the appropriate amount and temperature of water needed to clean efficiently.
And stop rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Just scrape off stuck-on foods. But if rinsing really seems necessary, use only cold water.