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ENERGY STAR KITCHEN APPLIANCES
SAVE MONEY AND THE ENVIRONMENT |
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ENERGY STAR® kitchen appliances — dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers — use less energy, according to the West Virginia Divison of Energy. Even kitchen appliances that are not ENERGY STAR can be used more efficiently to save energy and money.
Gov. Joe Manchin said saving energy is easier on West Virginia homeowners’ wallets and on the environment.
“I think most homeowners would be surprised at the difference modern, energy-efficient appliances and sensible use of existing appliances can make on their monthly utility bills,” Manchin said. “As I understand it, ENERGY STAR-approved appliances provide as good or better performance than non-certified ones, yet save money and help to reduce our impact on the earth’s natural resources.
“I encourage consumers to look for the ENERGY STAR label when they are shopping for new appliances and to contact the West Virginia Energy Efficiency Program or visit their web site for additional money-saving tips.”
ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR are the same or better than standard products but use less energy. To earn the ENERGY STAR, they must meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the U.S. Department of Energy. Since they use less energy, these products save money on your electricity bill.
Although qualified products can be found in most stores, some retailers have partnered with ENERGY STAR to train their sales staff about energy efficiency so that they can provide you with advice about purchasing energy-efficient products for your home and office. Visit www.wvdo.org/community/energystar.html to find such retailers in your area. From there, you can reach www.energystar.gov to search for products, get purchasing tips and calculate energy savings on many appliances.
ENERGY STAR DISHWASHERS
You can save more than $30 a year in utility costs if you replace a dishwasher made before 1994 with an ENERGY STAR qualified one, which uses at least 41 percent less energy than the federal minimum standard. It also will use much less hot water, saving the money it costs to heat it.
To use a dishwasher efficiently, always wash a full load. A less-than-full load uses the same amount of hot water as a full load, wasting energy and your money. Run your dishwasher with a full load to get the most from it. Avoid using the heat-dry, rinse-hold and pre-rinse features. Instead, use your dishwasher’s air-dry option.
ENERGY STAR REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS
In many households, the refrigerator consumes the most energy in a kitchen. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. They use high-efficiency compressors, better insulation and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms.
ENERGY STAR qualified freezers use at least 10 percent less energy than required by current federal standards.
Whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR qualified model, you can reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator or freezer uses with these tips:
- Position your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher or direct sunlight from a window.
- To allow air to circulate around the condenser coils, leave a space between the wall or cabinets and the refrigerator or freezer and keep the coils clean.
- Make sure the door seals are airtight.
- Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open.
- Recycle older or second refrigerators.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For other energy-saving tips, visit the West Virginia Division of Energy home page at www.energywv.org. Click on the link in the description of the ENERGY STAR program. For more information about saving money and energy, contact the West Virginia Division of Energy at (304) 558-2234 or (800) 982-3386.
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