Green Household Appliances

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Green Household Appliances

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New Appliances and 'Eco-Benefits' by Rebecca Jane Crompton

One expert has advised on the many useful features to be found on modern appliances. New washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers carry a number of features that could be ideal for the eco-conscious home, it has been advised.

In an article for the Examiner, Jeff McMahon states there are some things to look out for when shopping for a new kitchen appliance - particularly if your goal is saving energy. He notes older, top-loading washing machines can be much less efficient than a modern unit as they require less water and do not need to submerge items entirely. Mr McMahon adds tumble dryers have a number of useful features that could also be worth investing in. "Dryers with moisture sensors save energy by shutting down as soon as clothes are dry," he goes on.

One model which may be of interest is the Hotpoint SDW80P - which has an A-rating for washing, drying and energy efficiency.

Energy efficient appliances use less energy. This means that they cost less to run and are responsible for using less Carbon Dioxide, which is great for the environment and your bank balance. So, what features should you be looking out for to make sure that you can get your new washing machine to work for you?

If you are not always able to fill the washing machine every cycle, perhaps you live alone or you have a small family, then you should opt for a model with an automatic half load or just a half load programme. You will use this programme when the washing machine is not full. The purpose is to make sure that you do not waste valuable water, detergent and energy when the washing machine is not full.

The delay timer is an intelligent feature that allows you to programme the cycle to start and to finish at a time determined by you. You can choose to operate your washing machine overnight when the electricity is cheaper. Now this will not save you energy, but it could save you more money off your energy bills!

If your clothes are lightly soiled then you can just opt for the quick wash. Because the washing machine is working for a reduced amount of time it will use less energy to run the cycle. Another easy way to reduce your Carbon footprint!

Something that we can all do is to reduce the wash temperature from 40° to 30°. By reducing the wash temperature by just 10°, you can save 40% of the energy, great for the environment and great for reducing the cost of your energy bills (Energy Saving Trust 2009). You don't have to worry about the cleaning performance either. Many washing detergents are now able to wash just as effectively at 30°, so what are you waiting for?

I have written this article to help consumers make the most out of their appliances and reduce their energy consumption.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Jane_Crompton
http://EzineArticles.com/?New-Appliances-and-Eco-Benefits&id=2079750