As we head into the holiday season, many people will be tightening their budgets in preparation for all the big holiday meals and gift buying. Of course, there are some obvious ways to save money, like limiting eating out and not buying clothes you don’t need, but many overlook the costs of their appliances and electronics. By switching to energy-efficient appliances and electronics, you could save money not just this holiday season but throughout the whole year.
Upgrading to Energy-Efficient Products
An easy way to find energy-efficient products is by looking for ENERGY STAR-certified appliances and electronics. ENERGY STAR-products are certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as energy efficient, easily allowing consumers to identify the products that will help them save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Switching out large appliances, like your refrigerator, washer and dryer, to energy-efficient models can be a bit of an upfront investment, but selling your old appliances combined with the savings on your electricity bill can help make up the initial costs.
If you’re interested in changing out some appliances, consider the LG Ultra Capacity Side-by-Side refrigerator as it ranks as one of the best energy-efficient refrigerators, according to the EPA. This LG refrigerator uses LED lighting to save more energy over traditional lighting along with LG’s Smart Cooling system to keep food fresher longer. You can further save money overtime by upgrading your washer and dryer to energy-efficient models. Kenmore’s front-load washer model 41393 saves time and money by completing full-size loads in as little as 29 minutes and is ENERGY STAR-certified. Whirlpool’s Wrinkle Shield dryer model WED87HEDW is a great choice for energy-efficient dryers. Whirlpool’s dryer has something called “Advanced Moisture Sensing” that allows the dryer to end a cycle as soon as everything is dry, preventing over-drying and wasting electricity. It also has an EcoBoost mode to use even less energy.
Swapping Out Small Electronics
Replacing small electronics can also make a big difference on your electricity bill, without being a huge investment. According to the US Department of Energy, the average household spends 5% of its energy budget on lighting and switching to energy-efficient lighting can save about $75 a year. Think of that in terms of Christmas present shopping and that’s one decent gift! Start saving money by switching out your old incandescent light bulbs for more energy efficient CFLs or LEDs. EcoSmart’s energy efficient LED light bulbs are a great buy, available in a pack of six for about $29.97. These bulbs can last over 20 years and provide the same brightness as a traditional 65 watt incandescent lightbulb but only use 10.5 watts. You can save even more on lighting costs by switching outdoor lighting to solar powered.
Reducing Power With s Smart Power Strip
Another way to save money and reduce energy use is to plug your TV and computer into a smart power strip. Many TVs, computers, blu-ray players, and printers draw power even when they’re turned off. Smart power strips help stop these energy sucking devices from using electricity by shutting down power when such devices go into standby mode. The Take Charge Smart Power Strip automatically turns off power when appliances are not in use so you can stop energy draining devices from sucking money from your pocket.
Save On Heating and Cooling
Heating and cooling a home are also major contributors to energy costs. Using a smart thermostat or using space heaters to only heat rooms in use can help reduce energy usage and save you money. Smart thermostats allow you to adjust temperatures remotely and can be adjusted on more perimeters than just time, like traditional thermostats, allowing more control and more effective heating and cooling. The Nest smart thermostat is a favorite amongst many smart thermostat converts. The Nest automatically adapts to your temperature preferences, down to the time of day you like your room warmer or cooler, and adjusts to the change in seasons all after one week of use.
Although buying new appliances and electronics can end up having higher upfront costs, overtime the savings on your energy bill will make up the difference and then some. The sooner you invest in energy efficient appliances and electronics, the sooner you can start saving!
– By Layla Sundstrom, Contributor @layla_sundstrom
