Wave Issue 0512 3/25/05 Article 7-01

***Arizona Power Provides Timely Advice for Home Appliance Energy
Conservation

Phoenix, AZ

For the average Phoenix area home, 15 to 20% of the annual
electric bill is spent running household appliances. The energy
efficiency of your home appliances varies greatly depending on
the model of the appliance, specific features and your energy
usage habits.

EnergyGuide and Energy Star Labels Help Consumers

Make Wise Buying Decisions. Most new major appliances have a
bright yellow EnergyGuide label that compares the product’s
energy use and typical annual operating costs with other models
of similar size and features (see the example below). This
informative label will help you evaluate the energy performance
of appliances with different features and capacities.
In addition to the EnergyGuide label, look for the EPA’s Energy
Star sticker on the appliance. This sticker means it exceeds
minimum federal standards for energy efficiency and is one of the
most cost-efficient appliances you can buy.

After heating and cooling equipment and water heaters, the main
energyconsuming appliances in your home are:

- Refrigerator/freezers
- Clothes washers
- Clothes dryers
- Dishwashers
- Ranges

The following information will help you make an energy-wise
decision when purchasing home appliances.

Refrigerators

The refrigerator accounts for up to 8% of most typical energy
bills. Sideby-side refrigerator/freezers typically use 35% more
energy than models with the freezer on top. If you keep them
defrosted, manual-defrost models usually use about half as much
energy as automatic defrost models. Chest (top loading) freezers
are typically 10-15% more efficient than
upright (front loading). There are exceptions to these rules, so
it pays to check the EnergyGuide label. Advanced energy-efficient
features on new refrigerators include:

- Better insulation
- More efficient compressors
- More efficient coils
- Improved temperature and defrost mechanisms.

You should also look for refrigerators that display EPA Energy
Star labels. To get the most efficient unit, choose the right
size model for your needs and look for a model with an energy-
saver switch that allows you to turn off anti-condensate heaters
when the humidity is low. Energy Star refrigerators exceed
minimum federal standards for energy consumption by at least 20%.

Clothes Washers

A typical household washes nearly 400 loads of laundry each year.
Up to 90% of the energy used to wash clothes goes to heating the
water. Energy-efficient clothes washers use about half the water
and 30-40% less energy than older models. When buying a new
clothes washer, look for models with water level and temperature
controls. You may also want to consider front-loading machines
because they use significantly less water and energy than top
loaders. The design of energy-efficient, front-loading washing
machines also decreases wear and tear on your clothes.

Clothes Dryers

Energy-efficient clothes dryers have moisture sensors which
automatically turn off the dryer as soon as clothes are dry,
saving 10 to 15% on energy use. A cool-down cycle, which tumbles
clothes in cooler air for the last five to ten minutes of drying,
also saves energy and reduces wrinkling. Because the energy use
is so close between different brands of clothes dryers,
manufacturers are not reguired to provide an EnergyGuide label.

Dishwashers

Energy-efficient dishwashers use less electricity and hot water
to effectively clean your dishes. When buying a new dishwasher,
choose a model with a builtin electric booster heater. This will
allow you to lower your water heater setting to as low as 120
degrees F., cutting your water-heating bill by up to 10%. Other
efficiency features to look for include short-cycle selections
for less soiled dishes, and air-dry selectors, which
automatically shut off the booster heater during the drying
cycle, reducing electricity use by up to 20%. Look for the Energy
Star label on dishwashers showing the model exceeds minimum
federal efficiency standards by at least 13%. About 80% of the
energy used to wash dishes goes to heating water.

Ranges

Energy-efficient cooking options include convection ovens, that
use a fan to circulate air and provide 25% faster cooking times;
radiant cooktops, that give fast cooking response (elements heat
to high in less than 10 seconds) and keep your kitchen cooler;
and convection/microwave ovens that give you the economical, fast
cooking of a microwave, as well as the energy savings of a
convection oven. Because the energy use is so close between
different brands of ranges, manufacturers are not required to
provide an EnergyGuide label.

How Much Can You Save with Energy-Efficient Appliances?

Recent advances have dramatically improved the efficiency of
major home appliances, giving homeowners new options for reducing
their energy bills. The chart below shows the range of annual
energy use for several major appliances. Depending on the
appliance, you could save from 10% to over 50% on energy costs by
choosing more efficient models over less efficient models.

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