Energy-Efficient Small Appliances
- The U.S. Department of Energy operates several consumer websites to assist with decision making and evaluation of small appliances. The Energy Saver website explains how to estimate the energy consumption of small appliances by multiplying watts by hours of use a day divided by 1,000 for kilowatt-hours (kwh). Multiply by the number of days a year the appliance is used to calculate yearly consumption. Multiply by the price your electric company charges per kwh to calculate the annual cost.
- Energy Star rates small electronic appliances, including printers, copiers and computer monitors. Consumer electronics account for about 15 percent of home electricity use. Energy Star strives for 10 percent more efficiency in items that carry the label over those that are not Energy Star approved. Some items, like printers and monitors, may have a sleep mode when not in use. Use the Energy Star website to identify products by brand.
- Small appliances that create heat consume the most electricity. The vacuum cleaner, toaster oven, coffee maker, hair dryer and space heater are high-energy users. Small appliances that make a large difference include a coffee maker that you leave plugged in all day to keep the clock or timer functioning. The California Energy Commission shows that the coffee maker uses 128 kwh of electricity a year with only 30 minutes of use a day. Purchasing these small appliances with the Energy Star label when available will assure you of an energy-efficient appliance at the time of purchase. As the manufacturers produce more energy-efficient products, you may find that an older small appliance is not the most efficient model available.
- Battery chargers and adapters consume energy with continuous plug-in. Unplug your cell phone charger and similar adapters when not in use. Power strips can make your small appliances more energy efficient if you do not want to unplug the cord after every use. Purchase power strips that have an "off" switch and turn off when not in use to save leaking energy from your small appliances. Use energy-efficient lighting and fans where available. This makes your energy-efficient small appliances even more energy efficient.