LIGHTING AND APPLIANCES

When we run appliances or turn on the lights, we contribute to global climate change and other forms of air pollution.

This is because some of the energy we consume comes from oil, gas and coal-fired power plants. Every time we generate a kilowatt of power, we create about 900 grams of greenhouse gases and smog pollutants.

Every one of us can help protect the environment by reducing the amount of energy we use in our homes - in fact, it's the biggest single thing many of us can do.

Saving energy

There are three simple ways to cut power consumption:

1. Buy energy-efficient lights and appliances.
2. Get rid of energy hogs we don't really need, like the second fridge.
3. Turn things off.

Making the right choice

Choosing efficient lighting and appliances cuts down the amount of electricity we use and the amount of pollution we produce. And it lowers our energy bill.

Here's something to consider: If you replace a 10-year-old refrigerator with a new model that is approved through the Energy Star program www.energystar.gov, then you would save enough electricity in one year to light your home for over three months.

Lighting

Compact fluorescent bulbs are a great choice. These bulbs last up to 10 times longer than the incandescent bulbs we're used to - and use up to 75 per cent less energy.

Here are a few useful tips for lighting your home:

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in fixtures that are turned on the longest.
• Turn off any light that you don't need to use in the next 15 minutes - this even goes for compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Turn off the lights when leaving a room.
• Install dimmer switches.
• Consider natural light in the design of new construction or renovations.

Heating

• Buy a programmable thermostat to set temperatures that match your schedule. These thermostats are inexpensive, easy to install and can pay off quickly.
• Close the registers or vents so that you're not wasting heat on rooms that are not normally used.
• Ensure that your heating system is running at peak efficiency - have it inspected annually.
• Clean or replace air filters regularly. Dirty filters make your furnace work harder and create more pollution. Cleaning them every month or two is recommended.
• If you have an old oil-burning furnace, a flame retention head may save as much as a quarter of your heating bill.

Refrigerators

The appliance that uses the most energy in your home is the refrigerator.

Here are some ways you can use your refrigerator more efficiently:

• Look for the Energy Star sticker when buying a refrigerator. A 2002 Energy Star refrigerator uses less than half the electricity of the average 10-year-old unit.
• Place the refrigerator out of direct sunlight and away from the stove and other appliances that generate heat.
• Don't choose a refrigerator with features you won't use. Cold water and automatic ice dispensers can increase electricity usage by as much as 20 per cent.
• If you buy a new refrigerator, get rid of the old one.
• If you have cold storage spaces, make use of them for storing fresh foods.

Dishwashers

• Energy Star-approved dishwashers use 25 per cent less energy than other new models.
• Here are further tips for saving energy:
• Always run the dishwasher with a full load. Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is spent heating water, so filling your machine is more effective than running half-loads.
• If possible, use the air-dry option instead of the heat-dry, rinse-hold or pre-rinse features.

Washers and Dryers

Once again, Energy Star is the way to go. Washers and dryers with this designation use half as much energy as standard machines. Energy Star washers extract more water from clothes during the spin cycle, reducing the time needed to dry them. This saves energy, money … and even wear-and-tear on your clothes.

Front-loading tumble washers are also a good option because they use a third less water, a third less heat energy and a third less detergent. Plus, they're stylish.

Here are some good tips:

• Clothes washers are more efficient with full loads.
• Whenever you can, choose the cold water option.
• Choose detergents and whiteners that are environmentally friendly - they'll also be friendlier to your clothes.
• While the energy efficiency of different models of clothes dryers is roughly the same, there are features to look for - like moisture sensors that automatically stop drying when they a load is dry enough.

We're "borrowing" a lot here from Dr. David Suzuki, but if you want to get more information, you can go straight to the source - here. Dr. Suzuki's page also has excellent links, so it's a great resource.

For information about Energuide, visit www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca. And to learn more about Energy Star, go here - www.energystar.gov