If you’ve gone shopping for large appliances in the past few years, chances are you’re very familiar with the little blue Energy Star label. The U.S. Department of Energy can deem anything from air conditioners to televisions as “Energy Star” efficient, but what does that mean for us consumers?
Energy Star appliances are more expensive than their non-labeled counterparts, but supposedly the initial cost will be offset by lower utility bills in the future. Many people are turned off by the high price tag of Energy Star units, so does trying to be energy-efficient really help your wallet?
Multiple reports have shown that buying Energy Star appliances does actual save homeowners money over time– as long as you’re using them right.
“Just because you are buying the newest and most efficient energy efficient models doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be the most effective,” Joe Ridout from Consumer Action told ABC News.
Consumer Reports found that many people use the wrong settings, don’t use required high-efficiency soap, or simply don’t follow the directions.
The good news is the problem is an easy fix. If you’re using an Energy Star appliance, the savings should be pretty big.
The EPA estimates that the average price premium for an Energy Star-labeled fridge is about $30, and based on how much energy it saves compared to a non-labeled fridge, you can make that money back in 3 years. There are Energy Star calculators online that make estimating how much money you can save super easy.
When looking for your new appliance, remember to buy just as big as you need it to be and no bigger, use the Energy Guide label to compare different models in each category, and check for rebates and incentives.
Even if you save just ten percent of your energy bill throughout the year, over thirty or more years the savings can add up to thousands of dollars.
Also consider the other advantage that new and efficient appliances can spruce up a kitchen or laundry room, and they increase the resale value of a house twofold. Plus there’s the main reason you’re buying an energy-efficient model: leaving a smaller carbon footprint on the environment!
Keep in mind that while our appliances use less energy, overall we’re still using more and more energy each year. The number of things we plug in is expected to grow by 21 percent by 2030, and overall electricity consumption is projected to increase by 40%.
What this means is that every little bit counts, but continuing to look for other ways to cut energy is necessary in the long run.
But to answer the initial question simply: yes, Energy Star appliances are worth it! Their efficiency will quickly offset any initial costs, and save you a lot more over time. So what are you waiting for?
Do you have Energy Star appliances in your home?
Explanations: In the following paragraphs I am going to guide you through everything you could would like to know about T1 lines and T1 line speed. An item of contemporary fiber optics (wires that transmit data using light itself) T1 speed is easy to comprehend when you have the technology. I’ll also discuss various applications and expenses.
On a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon, the sound of taps could be heard playing from Sweet Water High School. The reason for this music was the Flag Pole Dedication Ceremony that was held Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. A crowd of about 50 people attended the ceremony which also included a 9-11 remembrance.Principal Stan Stokley welcomed the guests and Pastor Ed Rose gave the invocation. Byron Vice of the Woodmen of the World spoke about the Woodmen of the World and their donation of flags and flag poles.
The Prime Minister has suggested taking the Union Jack out of the flag as pictured here.Asked whether New Zealand should become a republic or consider changing its flag, Helen Clark said the two issues could be kept separate.Should the Union Jack be taken out of the New Zealand flag?
An F-15C Aggressor from the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flies over a mountain range on a refueling mission at Red Flag-Alaska July 25. Red Flag-Alaska enables aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment. More than 80 aircraft and 1,500 servicemembers from six countries are participating in the exercise July 12 to 27. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Tana Stevenson)
“Old Glory’s Helper Flag,” the largely forgotten banner that flew over a guard tower at Alcatraz at times during the 1969-71 Indian occupation, sold for $60,000 Thursday to a Texas bookstore owner who in recent years has purchased a lock of Che Guevara’s hair and a guitar once owned by Jimi Hendrix.Bill Butler, 61, who lives near Houston, said he bought the flag to add to his collection of artifacts from the 1960s.“I felt that Old Glory’s Helper Flag needed to be in friendly hands,” Butler said from his home in Texas. “I’m not an American Indian, but I have always supported the American Indian movement. I think this flag is an important part of that history.”
The American flag can be burned without prompting an outcry — but it has to be done a certain way and with respect.The American Legion can help with that.The Roy L. Vingers Post 52 demonstrated the right way to burn a flag Thursday with an official ceremony at its property at 711 S. Sixth St.“It’s to try to teach the public about the proper disposal of our American flag,” said Clyde Butterfield, American Legion flag disposal coordinator. “The main thing is respect for the American flag.”In cooperation with the La Crosse Fire Department, flag deposit
Pupils in the Jamestown Public Schools were given the opportunity to show off their patriotic side by an area organization.In an effort to promote the American Flag, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently sponsored an essay contest where students in schools across the country had to write about what the flag means to them. The contest was open to all pupils in the fifth and sixth grades.‘‘The Jamestown Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored this contest in the Jamestown Schools this year,’’ Carolyn Volk, Regent of the Jamestown DAR, adding she hopes the program will be expanded to other schools in the region. ‘‘As this was the first time the Jamestown Chapter has done this, we needed to start out small.’’