It can be difficult to separate a building's inherent energy needs from those of the people living in it. This is especially true once the home is occupied and in many ways is irrelevant since overall energy usage is all that affects the bill.
Humans do lots of different things that use energy. We own appliances, we have heating and cooling systems, we operate complex water fixtures and features, we use lights to repel the dark and – more so now than ever before – we plug in an astonishing number of gadgets, tools and other electronics.
Every one of those things is an opportunity to reduce our energy requirements without having to redesign or remodel our homes.
Major Appliances
Every electrical appliance uses energy, but some are greedier than others. Typically, the worst culprits in an average home are
• Refrigerators
• Clothes washers (and dryers)
• Dishwashers
Surprisingly, televisions also use a great deal of energy – not necessarily on their own but as a whole for a multi-television household.
When you're considering new appliances, the most basic qualification to look for is the Energy Star label ( www.energystar.gov). Although it's really just an indicator of the lowest acceptable level of efficiency, any appliance sporting the label is in the top 25% of all models for energy efficiency.
The next step in categorisation comes from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), who break down the Energy Star system into five different levels:
• Tier 1 is the basic Energy Star label
• Tiers 2, 3 and 4 are more efficient than the minimum required level; products can also earn the "Save More" label if incentives are offered
• The Advanced Tier is reserved for "truly exceptional" efficiency ratings and is targeted at early adopters who want to use appliances that will be cost effective in the future
The CEE produces lists of appliances that meet their energy usage requirements. Remember to check with your local utility providers to see if you qualify for rebates on particularly efficient models. The latest CEE lists are available on their website: www.cee1.org/content/cee-program-resources
A more recent resource is TopTen ( www.toptenusa.org), an independent site dedicated entirely to the best energy-efficient products on the market. TopTen is significantly less complicated than the CEE's lists but, by its nature, only shows the best of breed in each category rather than a complete list.
With this basic information, you'll make better energy decisions for your home but you should always remember to check our site for more details about specific appliances before you buy!