General Energy Efficiency Tips When Using Major Appliances

Many Variables Affect Energy Consumption

Because your home's energy bills are not broken down according to appliance usage, it can be difficult to determine where and when electricity use increases. You should consider the many variables that affect the energy consumption in your home, such as guests using extra hot water, extra laundry from a major spring cleaning or an unusually long winter or cooling season.

Operating tips by product:

The Appliance's Second Price Tag

Everyone is familiar with an appliance's first price tag – the sticker price, or the cost of buying an appliance. You should also consider any appliance's second price tag – what it costs to operate it over its lifetime.

Some energy-efficient appliances cost more initially, but when you calculate the second price tag, these appliances save you money by dramatically reducing your energy costs over the appliance's lifetime. And when you use less energy, you help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

Calculating the second price tag

Check the EnerGuide Label

The EnerGuide label is found on all new major electrical appliances manufactured in or imported to Canada, indicating the amount of electricity used by that appliance during one year of average use. You can use this label to make informed buying decisions by comparing the energy performances of different models.

Look for ENERGY STAR^® Qualified Products

The international ENERGY STAR symbol identifies products that meet or exceed technical specifications designed to ensure they are among the most energy efficient in their class. Requirements vary from one category to another, but typically an ENERGY STAR model must be from 10 to 50 percent more efficient than a conventional model.

Say Good-Bye to Old Appliances

It may be tempting to move an old refrigerator to the basement or garage, but doing so can cost you a lot of money. The appliance could use up as much energy as four ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators that are manufactured in 2005. Getting rid of it will make a big difference on your electricity bill. And if you have older appliances that are ready for disposal, do so in an environmentally friendly way through an appliance – recycling program.