The Importance of Energy Efficiency in Home Appliances
Written by admin on August 15th, 2011
Due in large part to the current economic, energy, and environmental crises, product developers are putting particular emphasis on energy efficiency – as are nature-friendly consumers. Widespread effort to use the minimum amount of energy for maximum mechanical functioning is the aim of product developers and consumers – a fortunate trend since advances and personal effort in this field are essential for everyone’s well-being. Technology in everyday household appliances has made significant progress over the past 20 years, and brands are a ferocious competition to put out the most advanced and efficient products.
The well-respected ENERGY STAR program brands, with its logo products that are technologically up to par, are making it easier for consumers to make wise choices regarding their household items. ENERGY STAR evaluates a wide variety of products including appliances, electronics, and construction equipment. Those in search for new appliances are well-advised to consult the ENERGY STAR list of approved products beforehand! [1]
In addition to keeping an eye out for the best products, it benefits the individual to know what makes a product energy efficient, mechanically speaking, and how they can maintain their appliances to function optimally while using as little energy as possible. This is beneficial not only for the environment, but also for one’s electric bills.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators are the biggest energy guzzlers of the house accounting for about one-sixth of electricity consumption. One can reduce the cost of refrigeration by investing in an appropriately-sized model (a full-sized refrigerator is superfluous for a small household), by keeping the thermostat between 34 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit (an ideal temperature for food storage), and by regularly defrosting the inside. It is also important to note that top/bottom models use less energy than side-by-side models.
Washing Machines
The easiest solution to energy-efficient clothes washing is, of course, to do the task by hand. Otherwise, when searching for a washer, opt for front-loading washers (those with a horizontal spinner axis), which require less water to drench the clothing. Also, as water heating requires energy, cold cycles are more economical. One can also search for a washer with a fast spin momentum at the end of the cycle, as this lessens the need for machine-drying. A list of ENERGY STAR-certified washers, which must be 40% more energy efficient than the industry standard to qualify for the label, can be found on energystar.gov.
Dishwashers
Consistent with washing machines, the most energy-efficient dishwashers use minimal water and electricity. Dishwashers produced after 1994 that meet the ENERGY STAR standards use 5.8 gallons of water per cycle or less – however, one can use even less than this by setting the washer to the “short cycle” option. This simply abbreviates each stage of the washing, resulting in less water and electricity expenditure. Many washers also have a “no heat” drying option, which cuts down even further the amount of electricity used.
Dryers
Much like clothes-washing, it should be noted foremost that the most energy-efficient way to dry one’s clothing is to use a clothes line, or lay garments flat to dry. However, if one is committed to machine-drying, there are efforts that can be taken to maximize energy efficiency. To begin, gas-powered driers are better than electric ones because the burning of gas generates more energy than electricity. Proper maintenance of machines includes removing lint regularly and keeping the machine in a warm, dry space so that it doesn’t have to use as much power to reach the proper temperature – also, drying loads in succession recycles heat, reducing the machine’s task of producing it. ENERGY STAR does not label dryers because they all use similar amounts of energy, but it is agreed upon that combination washer-drier machines use less energy than two separate machines do.
Water Heaters
This appliance comes in more varieties than any other; the consumer can choose between heaters powered by gas, electricity, heat pumps, and solar power, among other sources. By far, the most cost-effective and energy-efficient option is the solar-powered model, although they are initially the most expensive. Unfortunately, they are only the best option when used in mid to warm climates. For consumers in colder hemispheres, heat pumps are a good alternative. Their advantage over conventional water heaters, which must constantly heat reserves of hot water, is that they simply move heat from one place to another; obtaining it from the surrounding room, for instance. It is helpful to keep the water tank insulated, and also to keep the thermostat around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A list of ENERGY STAR-approved heat pump models, which must be 10% more energy efficient than the industry standard to qualify for the label, can be found on energystar.gov.
Source:
1. http://www.energystar.gov
This article is from Wellhome, which provides Home Energy Audits or Assessments with the ability to upgrade HVAC, Windows, and Home Insulation, and perform Duct Tightening and Air Sealing to create a comfortable more well balanced home that performs at its best level. Home energy assessments through WellHome allow the homeowner to get a bigger picture of the efficiency of the home and its ability to maintain comfortable temperatures and air flow.
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Tags: energy, Refrigerators Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Water Heaters
• About the Author
John Kurowski has been interested and committed to energy efficient home design and construction since 1974. His commitment was motivated by the actions of OPEC in the early 70’s of limiting oil production and causing major energy shortages around the world.
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Energy conservation
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This article is about decreasing energy consumption. For the law of conservation of energy in physics, see Conservation of energy.
Sustainable energy

Renewable energy

• Anaerobic digestion
• Biomass
• Geothermal
• Hydroelectricity
• Solar
• Tidal
• Wind

Energy conservation
• Cogeneration
• Energy efficiency
• Geothermal
• Green building
• Microgeneration
• Passive Solar
• Organic Rankine cycle

Sustainable transport

• Biofuel
• Electric vehicle
• Green vehicle
• Plug-in hybrid

Environment portal

• v
• t
• e

Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources. An energy conservation act was passed in 2001.[clarification needed]
Energy conservation can result in increased financial capital, environmental quality, national security, personal security, and human comfort.[citation needed] Individuals and organizations that are direct consumers of energy choose to conserve energy to reduce energy costs and promote economic security. Industrial and commercial users can increase energy use efficiency to maximize profit.
Contents
• 1 Building design
• 2 Climate change
• 3 Energy conservation by country o 3.1 European Union
 3.1.1 United Kingdom o 3.2 India o 3.3 Iran o 3.4 Japan o 3.5 Lebanon o 3.6 New Zealand o 3.7 Sri Lanka o 3.8 United States
• 4 Energy conservation issues
• 5 See also
• 6 References o 6.1 Notes
• 7 External links

Building design

Elements of passive solar design, shown in a direct gain application
In passive solar building design, windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. This is called passive solar design or climatic design because, unlike active solar heating systems, it doesn't involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices.
The key to designing a passive solar building is to best take advantage of the local climate. Elements to be considered include window placement and glazing type, thermal insulation, thermal mass, and shading. Passive solar design techniques can be applied most easily to new buildings, but existing buildings can be adapted or "retrofitted".
Climate change
By reducing emissions, energy conservation is an important part of lessening climate change. Energy conservation facilitates the replacement of non-renewable resources with renewable energy. Energy conservation is often the most economical solution to energy shortages, and is a more environmentally being alternative to increased energy production.
Energy conservation by country
European Union
See also: Energy policy of the European Union
At the end of 2006, the European Union-EU pledged to cut its annual consumption of primary energy by 20% by 2020.[1] The 'European Union Energy Efficiency Action Plan' is long awaited. As part of the EU's SAVE Programme,[2] aimed at promoting energy efficiency and encouraging energy-saving behaviour, the Boiler Efficiency Directive[3] specifies minimum levels of efficiency for boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels. The European Commission is funding large-scale research projects to learn about success factors for effective energy conservation programmes.[4]
United Kingdom
Main article: Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom
Energy conservation in the United Kingdom has been receiving increased attention over recent years. Key factors behind this are the Government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions, the projected 'energy gap' in UK electricity generation, and the increasing reliance on imports to meet national energy needs. Domestic housing and road transport are currently the two biggest problem areas.
Responsibility for energy conservation fall between three Government departments although is led by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) is still responsible for energy standards in buildings, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) retains a residual interest in energy insofar as it leads to emissions of CO2, the main greenhouse gas. The Department for Transport retains many responsibilities for energy conservation in transport. At an operational level, there are two main non-departmental governmental bodies ("quangoes") - the Energy Saving Trust, working mainly in the domestic sector with some interest in transport, and the Carbon Trust, working with industry and innovative energy technologies. In addition there are many independent NGOs working in the sector such as the Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol or the National Energy Foundation in Milton Keynes, and directly helping consumers make informed choices on energy efficiency sust-it
India
Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) www.pcra.org is an Indian government body created in 1977 and engaged in promoting energy efficiency and conservation in every walk of life. In the recent past PCRA has done mass media campaigns in television, radio & print media. An impact assessment survey by a third party revealed that due to these mega campaigns by PCRA, overall awareness level have gone up leading to saving of fossil fuels worth crores of rupees besides reducing pollution.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency is an Indian governmental organization created in 2001 responsible for promoting energy efficiency and conservation.
Iran
In Iran the Iranian Fuel Conservation Company is responsible for promoting energy efficiency and conservation for Fossil fuels.
Japan

Advertising with high energy in Shinjuku, Japan.
Since the 1973 oil crisis, energy conservation has been an issue in Japan. All oil based fuel is imported, so indigenous sustainable energy is being developed.
The Energy Conservation Center promotes energy efficiency in every aspect of Japan. Public entities are implementing the efficient use of energy for industries and research.
Lebanon
In Lebanon and since 2002 The Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) has been promoting the development of efficient and rational uses of energy and the use of renewable energy at the consumer level. It was created as a project financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of Energy Water (MEW) under the management of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and gradually established itself as an independent technical national center although it continues to be supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as indicated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between MEW and UNDP in June 18, 2007.
New Zealand
In New Zealand the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is responsible for promoting energy efficiency and conservation.
Sri Lanka
Main article: Energy conservation in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka currently consumes fossil fuels, hydro power, wind power and solar power for their day to day power generation. The Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority is playing a major role regarding energy management and energy conservation. Today, most of the industries are requested to reduce their energy consumption by using renewable energy sources and optimizing their energy usage.
United States
Main article: Energy conservation in the United States
The United States is currently the second largest single consumer of energy, following China. The U.S. Department of Energy categorizes national energy use in four broad sectors: transportation, residential, commercial, and industrial.[5]
Energy usage in transportation and residential sectors, about half of U.S. energy consumption, is largely controlled by individual consumers. Commercial and industrial energy expenditures are determined by businesses entities and other facility managers. National energy policy has a significant effect on energy usage across all four sectors, and its strengthening is part of the 2010 Presidential-Congressional legislative debate.
Energy conservation issues
• The use of telecommuting by major corporations is a significant opportunity to conserve energy, as many Americans now work in service jobs that enable them to work from home instead of commuting to work each day.[6]
• Electric motors consume more than 60% of all electrical energy generated and are responsible for the loss of 10 to 20% of all electricity converted into mechanical energy.[7]
• Consumers are often poorly informed of the savings of energy efficient products. The research one must put into conserving energy often is too time consuming and costly when there are cheaper products and technology available using today's fossil fuels.[8] Some governments and NGOs are attempting to reduce this complexity with ecolabels that make differences in energy efficiency easy to research while shopping.
• Technology needs to be able to change behavioral patterns, it can do this by allowing energy users, business and residential, to see graphically the impact their energy use can have in their workplace or homes. Advanced real-time energy metering is able to help people save energy by their actions. Rather than become wasteful automatic energy saving technologies, real-time energy monitors and meters such as the Energy Detective, Enigin Plc's Eniscope, Ecowizard, or solutions like EDSA'a Paladin Live are examples of such solutions [9]
• It is frequently argued that effective energy conservation requires more than informing consumers about energy consumption, for example through smart meters at home or ecolabels while shopping. People need practical and tailored advice how to reduce energy consumption in order to make change easy and lasting.[10] This applies to both efficiency investments, such as investment in building renovation, or behavioral change, for example turning down the heating. To provide the kind of information and support people need to invest money, time and effort in energy conservation, it is important to understand and link to people's topical concerns.[11]
• Some retailers argue that bright lighting stimulates purchasing. However, health studies have demonstrated that headache, stress, blood pressure, fatigue and worker error all generally increase with the common over-illumination present in many workplace and retail settings.[12][13] It has been shown that natural daylighting increases productivity levels of workers, while reducing energy consumption.[14]
See also
• Annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE)
• Brushless wound-rotor doubly fed electric machine
• Daylighting
• Ecolabel
• Energy saving
• Energy crisis
• Energy monitoring and targeting
• Energy recovery
• Fuel efficiency
• Green building
• Green computing
• Heat Pump
• High temperature insulation wool
• Jevon's paradox
• Lighting
• List of low-energy building techniques
• Low Carbon Communities
• Low energy building
• Low-energy vehicle

Sustainable development portal

Energy portal

• Marine fuel management
• Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards
• MIT Design Advisor
• One Watt Initiative
• Over-consumption
• Passive house
• Plug-in hybrid
• Pumpable ice technology
• Renewable heat
• Smart grid
• Solar energy
• Superinsulation
• Sustainability
• Renewable heat
• Thermal efficiency
• Universal Metering Interface (UMI)
• Window film
• Youth Energy Summit
• Zero energy building

References
• Gary Steffy, Architectural Lighting Design, John Wiley and Sons (2001) ISBN 0-471-38638-3
• Lumina Technologies, Analysis of energy consumption in a San Francisco Bay Area research office complex, for (confidential) owner, Santa Rosa, Ca. May 17, 1996
• GSA paves way for IT-based buildings [15]
• The official homepage for the European Intelligent Metering project. [3]
Notes
1. ^ "Energy: What do we want to achieve ? - European commission". Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
2. ^ For an Energy-Efficient Millennium: SAVE 2000, Directorate-General for Energy
3. ^ Council Directive 92/42/EEC of 21 May 1992 on efficiency requirements for new hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels
4. ^ see for example CHANGING BEHAVIOUR
5. ^ US Dept. of Energy, "Annual Energy Report" (July 2006), Energy Flow diagram
6. ^ Best Buy Optimas Award Winner for 2007
7. ^ European Commission of the Institute for Environment and Sustainability, "Electricity Consumption and Efficiency Trends in the Enlarged European Union [1]", 2006
8. ^ The Difficulties of Energy Efficiency. "The Elusive Negawatt [2]", 2008
9. ^ July 2009 European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy and Transport initiative, "Energy Savings from Intelligent Metering and Behavioural Change (INTELLIGENT METERING) http://www.managenergy.net/products/R1951.htm", 2009
10. ^ Breukers, Heiskanen, et al. (2009). Interaction schemes for successful demand-side management. Deliverable 5 of the CHANGING BEHAVIOUR project. Funded by the EC (#213217)
11. ^ Toolkit for managers of energy conservation projects: How to learn about people's topical concerns
12. ^ Scott Davis, Dana K. Mirick, Richard G. Stevens (2001). "Night Shift Work, Light at Night, and Risk of Breast Cancer". Journal of the National Cancer Institute 93 (20): 1557–1562. doi:10.1093/jnci/93.20.1557. PMID 11604479.
13. ^ Bain, A (1997). "The Hindenburg Disaster: A Compelling Theory of Probable Cause and Effect". Procs. NatL Hydr. Assn. 8th Ann. Hydrogen Meeting, Alexandria, Va., March 11–13,: 125–128.
14. ^ Lumina Technologies Inc., Santa Rosa, Ca., Survey of 156 California commercial buildings energy use, August, 1996
15. ^ Robb, Drew (2007-06-02). "GSA paves way for IT-based buildings - Government Computer News". Gcn.com. Retrieved 2010-07-29.