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| home improvement
Making dollars and sense of energy efficiency BY PAUL WESSLUND
story of energy-efficient technolcan cause confusion. Some see ogy improvements. By spendit as a way to a cleaner environing $5 to $10 on an LED bulb (compared to about $1 for an old ment. Others see extra expense incandescent), you get a prodand inconvenience. Sorting out those views gets uct that uses 75% less electriceven more complicated as techity and, incidentally, can last 20 years compared to about a year nology gives us a dizzying array for an incandescent bulb. The of choices for using electricity, Department of Energy estimates from smart thermostats to varietthe average home could save more ies of light bulbs. than $200 a year by replacing The basic idea of energy effiincandescent bulbs with LEDs. ciency is simple—use less energy Maybe the best news of all to do the same amount of work, is that as efficient products imsaving you money on your electric bills. prove and gain popularity, they’re Here’s where it gets confusing. not always more expensive. Efficiency improvements in refrigerators are cutting their energy use Sometimes you have to pay more Many cheaper appliance modin half about every 15 years. If your fridge is more than 20 years old, for something that’s considered els have similar annual operating replacing it with a new high-efficiency model could save you $300 in energy efficient. It costs more costs compared with the pricier operating costs over the next five years. upfront but may save money in versions. the long run. That may sound Two key tips for turning energy illogical at first, like the old phrase, “You efficiency into dollars are to know what Sometimes you have to have to spend money to make money.” you want from your energy use and to pay more for something But it makes sense after you think about do your homework. Products come with it for a minute—most moneymaking a wide range of features that cost extra that’s considered energy and may actually be less efficient—do projects require an initial upfront investyou want a refrigerator that offers the ment, whether it’s a factory or a lemonefficient. It costs more best efficiency, or do you want to pay ade stand. upfront but may save more for a less-efficient model that has From computers to major appliances, an ice dispenser in the door? manufacturers are increasing the energy money in the long run. And ask for help. Your local electric efficiency of their products. According to co-op has energy experts who can tell the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy you how to make the best use of electricStar-rated appliances can save you 10% “Smart power strips” also show how to 50% of the energy required for stanspending now on efficiency can make ity. To compare efficiency among applimoney in the future. Keeping your dard models that don’t receive the ances, look for the yellow Energy Guide phone charger and other electronic Energy Star sticker. When you consider label, which shows information like estidevices plugged in can consume electricthat most major appliances last 10 years, mated annual operating costs. Explore those savings can stack up over time. ity even after they’re fully charged or not the energy.gov website for online calcuEven more savings are in store by rein use. A smart power strip cuts off the lators and additional resources that can help you turn efficiency data into real placing older appliances that weren’t built electricity once charging is complete. A with today’s efficiency standards in mind. smart strip costs about $40, and, depend- savings on your energy bills. Improvements in refrigerators are cuting on your electric rates and how much charging you do, it could save as much ting their energy use in half about every PAUL WESSLUND writes on consumer and 15 years. So, if your fridge is more than 20 as $40 a year on your electric bills, recov- cooperative affairs for the National Rural years old, replacing it with a new high-efElectric Cooperative Association, the ering your initial investment almost national trade association representing right away. ficiency model could save you $300 in opmore than 900 local electric cooperatives. Light bulbs offer the most dramatic erating costs over the next five years. THE TERM “ENERGY EFFICIENCY”
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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | APRIL 2022 | SCLIVING.COOP
