Becoming energy efficient in 2016
JOHANNESBURG – The economy may be a bit stretched, but many consumers have spent the year saving a bit of money in order to buy those big ticket items during the end-of-year sales.
An initiative that encourages South Africans to save energy, 49M, has compiled a quick guide to help you figure out how much electricity that dream fridge or much-needed washing machine is going to use … and how much it’s going to cost you.
An appliance can have an energy rating of A+, A++ or A+++. The energy rating of the appliance is usually displayed on the product and the A rating will be indicated with a green sticker.
Most new washing machines on the market have funky features like cool washes, which are just as efficient as warm washes and some even adjust the water consumption according to the load.
Energy efficient fridges have improved cooling performance thanks to technology which automatically adjusts the digital inverter compressor in response to cooling demands. This means the temperature remains static and the fridge does not need to use more electricity to cool down again. Some have double inside doors so the items that are used most, such as milk and cold drinks, are placed on the front door shelves. This means you can get to these without having to open the entire fridge and the fridge will not have to re-cool.
New ‘green’ air conditioners also have a number of energy-efficient features like digital inverters similar to those used in the fridges. As a result, the desired temperature is maintained with more efficiency without frequently having to shut it off and on, making sure that the desired temperature is maintained.
Most TV manufacturers are now using a mercury and lead-free option, which means that the set is recyclable at the end of its lifespan. Most are also using LED lights, which means the latest models have a very good energy rating of between A and A+++. So, besides saving energy, these products can be disposed of without causing harm to the environment.
Cellphone users also contribute to saving energy. Most people leave their phones on charge and when they remove the phone from the charger, they leave the charger plugged in, which still consumes energy. New chargers switch off automatically once the phone is charged to full capacity, but the charger should still be unplugged to save further energy.
How to choose an energy-efficient appliance:
1. Do online research before shopping. Be sure to ask the sales assistant for help so you can make the right decision based on your budget and individual needs.
2. The 49M label – many suppliers carry this label on their energy-efficient appliances, which includes an information label on the appliance packaging, offering handy energy-saving tips relevant to the specific appliance category.
3. The EnergyGuide – all new appliances must carry this EnergyGuide label on the packaging as this allows consumers to compare the typical annual energy consumption and operating costs of different models of any type of appliance so that customers can see the benefits for themselves.
Details: www.49m.co.za
