Appliances - Tips & Tools

Many consumers shopping for appliances have a checklist of features that may not include energy efficiency. However, once they establish how much they wish to spend and decide upon features such as type, size, gadgets and colour, then energy consumption becomes a valuable selling feature. The energy consumption rating on the EnerGuide label can be used to calculate the cost of operating an appliance during a year or over its lifetime. Known as the "second price tag," this information can also be used to help clients choose between models and to close the sale.

Here's How...
Yearly energy cost =
EnerGuide rating (kWh) x local electricity cost ($/kWh)

Second price tag =
Yearly energy cost x appliance life in years (see calculations below)

By doing these calculations, you can determine the energy costs for different appliances with varying kWh energy consumption ratings.
Multiplying the energy consumption ratings by the appliance's lifespan emphasizes the difference in energy costs.

For example, the energy consumption rating taken from an EnerGuide label for a top-mounted, 20-cubic-foot refrigerator-freezer (also known as Type 3) can range from 555 kWh for a more energy-efficient refrigerator to 767 kWh for a less energy-efficient one.

Difference in operating cost:

The $293.00 savings in electricity over the lifetime of the appliance is an interesting buying feature. Don't forget, this calculation assumes that the price of electricity will remain the same over the next 17 years, so the savings will be higher if electricity rates increase over the years.

Approximate Lifetime expectancies of Major Electrical Household Appliances:

What are kilowatt-hour savings worth?

Here are some energy saving facts:

• 50 kWh saved is enough energy to run a dishwasher 20 times. That's two months of clean dishes for free.

• 100 kWh saved is enough energy to run a clothes washer 50 times, or one free load of laundry every week for a year.

• 200 kWh saved is enough energy to run a clothes washer 100 times, or two free loads of laundry every week for a year.

• 250 kWh saved is enough energy to run a dishwasher 100 times, or a year's worth of clean dishes for free.

• An energy- and water-efficient dishwasher will conserve water and the energy needed to heat it. In communities where water is metered and energy costs are high, this is a bonus.

One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the amount of electrical energy supplied by one kilowatt over a one-hour period. It is the basic unit of measurement for electrical energy. Electricity bills are based in part on the number of kilowatt-hours a customer uses during a billing period.

One kilowatt-hour is equivalent to:

• running an energy-efficient refrigerator for half a day

• providing 2.8 minutes of hot water for a shower

• using a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours