Reducing appliances' power use can be simple

Your Path to Energy Savings
By Sharon Anderson, Special to The Ithaca Journal
December 6, 2010

Electricity used by appliances accounts for 36 percent of total energy costs in the average home. Here are ways to save money without buying new appliances.

1.      Shut off refrigerators and freezers that are not needed. If you have a second refrigerator or freezer that is used only occasionally, shutting it off can save you over $150-$250 per year.

2.      Clothes washing: 90 percent of the cost of washing your clothes is heating the water. Wash your clothes in cold water where appropriate.  Washing clothes in cold water can save up to $50 per year. Washing full loads is best but if you must wash a smaller load, adjust the water level to the size of the load.

3.      Drying clothes: Line drying clothes saves both money AND your clothes.  Towels can be fluffed on an air-only cycle before hanging on the line so they dry soft.

4.      If your electricity supplier offers night rates for electricity and you can save up to 30 percent on the cost of running appliances by running them at night. For example if you use a clothes dryer, hot water heater and dehumidifier only at night you could save nearly $220 per year.  Some dishwashers and clothes washers have delay cycles that make it easy to get them ready at any time and then have them run during non-peak hours.

Last Updated: May 25, 2011