Renewable Energy Guides & Resources

How Much Does it Cost to be Energy Efficient?

It is a general misconception that electronics with high energy efficiency come with a high price. Achieving energy efficiency means making smart choices while purchasing electronics for your home. A power-saving brand that seems expensive will be beneficial in the long term and prove friendly to both your pocket and the environment. Smart appliances can help you save money , so consider investing in LED lights and appliances such as a smart television, fridge, washing machine, air conditioner, heating system for winter. Solar systems for hot water, solar panels, and solar lights can help reduce average power consumption. A TV with a rating of 2 stars typically uses 40.9 cents per hour, while a TV with a 5-star rating will be around 20 cents. ## How much more do energy-efficient appliances cost? It is a general misconception that electronics with high energy efficiency have a high price. But if we look at its benefits in terms of power savings and impact on the environment in the long run, the savings outweigh the investment cost. ## Comparison of energy-efficiency of appliances The annual expense comparison between some 3-star and 5-star electronic items is below to help you understand how beneficial it is to select higher star ratings. ### Television A yearly bill for a 3-star television is around $73.85, while that of a 5-star TV is $47.26. ### Refrigerator If you have a 3-star fridge at home, you will spend around $106.44 on electricity per year. On the other hand, if it has 5-star ratings, the cost will be around $63.11, a clear savings of $43.33 every year. ### Washing machine You can’t imagine a household in Australia without a washing machine. But it can be costly equipment in terms of energy consumption. You could be paying $121.64 for using a 3-star, but with a 5-star rating the annual bill will be $64.82. ## How can we be efficient at using energy? You can make any home more energy-efficient by making small changes in your power-usage habits and improvements in your household. Get rid of incandescent bulbs - go for LED bulbs. They consume significantly less energy, gives you more light, are environment-friendly, and help save money on your yearly electricity bills. Use solar batteries to store energy and use them at night inside your home. You can also install solar lights for the outdoors of your home. A solar water heating system will give you hot water throughout the year in any climate. Switch to automated heating and cooling systems that keep your home cool or warm depending on the weather and cut the power consumption when possible. Choose appliances that have a high energy rating. They require less power to run and reduces your electricity bills. Ultimately, there will be less energy use and a reduced carbon footprint. There are many other ways you can achieve energy efficiency within your budget, like correcting daily energy consumption habits, using windows for natural brightness and ventilation, applying insulation to your home and preventing air leakages. ## What is an energy-efficient appliance? Appliances that maintain heating, cooling, ventilation, and cleanliness in your house account for a large part of total power consumption in your home. Most electronics have ratings displayed on them to help buyers know their energy efficiency. The more ratings an electrical appliance has, the more effective it is. You can see the star ratings and how much electricity it uses in a year right on the product. When you are not sure which brand and model to buy, you can always research and choose an appliance with a high star ratings. Though such equipment will cost more, it will work more with less energy use on average. Additionally, you will need to pay lower power charges in the long term. For example, a 3-star appliance will be consuming almost double the energy compared to the one with a 5-star.