Home Series: How to Choose the Best Energy Saving Appliances
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How to Choose the Best Energy Saving Appliances
There’s one thing that every person who resides in Vancouver knows with certainty is that your average utility bill is not going to be going down any time in the near future. If anything, the cost to keep the light on and heat our homes is almost always likely going to be on the rise.
If you aren’t one of those fortunate people who can manage to get off the grid and avoid these hefty monthly bills then you have to do whatever you can to mitigate and lower your power usage to save money.
One proactive approach that you can use to save money on your power bill can be achieved simply by getting rid of your old appliances and replacing them with new ones.
Although you might scoff at the expense, old appliances use up an incredible amount of electricity and account for a big chunk of your hydro bill. Simply put, older appliances are less efficient and more expensive to run. By replacing these old appliances with energy efficient appliances, you can end up saving a lot of money which could make it a worthwhile investment.
However, although there are many appliances which advertise themselves as being energy efficient, some are better than others. It’s a good idea to do some research before you jump at what appears to be a bargain.
How Energy Appliances are Rated
How do you tell is one appliance is more energy efficient than some other comparable model?
The law in Canada which governs energy efficient appliances comes under Canada’s Energy Efficient Regulations which requires that any appliance which is either made in this country or imported is required to have an “Energuide” label affixed to it.
This energuide label must display the amount of power that this appliance consumes and that any energy testing performed on an appliance must be done by an outside third party and is not the manufacturer of the product.
Energuide Labels include the following information:
- Consumption of average Kilowatt (kWh) annual usage for this particular appliance.
- How this appliance compares to other similar appliances when it comes to being energy efficient.
- The range of energy usage for this specific size and model on an annual basis.
- The type and size of this particular model.
- The number of this particular model.
Another feature which you should also look for when buying an energy efficient appliance is the International Energy Star symbol which may be attached right on the Energuide Label itself or on a separate portion of the appliance. The I.E.S. symbol means that the model in question meets or exceeds its technical specifications and is the most energy efficient model which you can buy for that specific class of appliance models.
Can Qualify for Government Rebates
Before you go shopping you might want to check both the B.C. and federal websites as both government agencies may allow or provide for rebates for some specific appliance models. You can get back as much as $75.00 for some appliance models.
However, when it comes right down to it, saving money can be had simply by turning the thermostat down and raising it on the air conditioner. And most importantly, if you’re not using it then turn it off!
