As I settled on my sofa to get ready to watch “60 Minutes”, a Sunday ritual, the entire hour was on “global warming”. These days, you don’t have to look very far to find a headline, ad campaign, or web site promoting the latest environmentally friendly product line. From Wal-Mart to Toyota, some of the largest companies have discovered that the green movement can put green on their bottom line. Guess what? “Green is now mainstream”.

For all the hype that is out there, how do you know what’s really “green”. Simply put, green products don’t pollute when being manufactured, conserve energy and water when used, contain few or no potentially harmful chemicals, and can easily be recycled. Being green today does not mean scrimping on performance and quality. According to the experts at Consumer Reports, appliances use up about 20 percent of you household energy. But because many modern appliances are more energy-efficient than their older counterparts, it can sometimes make sense to replace those old appliances as listed below:

Refrigerators
Look for the model that uses the least amount of energy. Those that are Energy-Star qualified use 15 percent less energy than conventional models built before 2001, and 50 percent more efficient than those built before 1993. Your refrigerator consumes more energy than any major kitchen appliance. Over their lifetime, new refrigerators will generally save enough energy to offset their purchase price.
Consumer Reports has found that on average, top and bottom-freezer models cost less and have generally been more reliable than side-by-sides. They tend to be slightly more energy efficient, saving $5 to $20 per year in electricity usage. You can probably save more with smaller models.

Icemakers and dispensers increase energy use by up to 20 percent. Plus they can raise the sticker price by $75 to $250 and according to Consumer Reports’ survey, they can increase the likelihood that your refrigerator will need repair.

Clothes Washers
Clothes washers are the second largest water hog in your home after toilets. Those manufactured today are at least 21 percent more efficient than older models. Consider front-loading washers for top performance and efficiency. Consumer Reports tests show that the most efficient models cut water consumption by up to 25 percent compared with the least efficient models tested. You’ll typically save $60 to $80 per year in energy. You’ll have to wait years for those savings to pay off. And at a cost of $900 or more, these machines are not for every budget. Bypass high efficiency top-loaders. They’re as expensive as front-loaders, but usually not efficient.

Dryers
Insisting on a moisture sensor can save energy because they tend to recognize when laundry is dry and shut the machine off more quickly than machines that use a traditional thermostat. Choose gas if you have that option. Both gas and electric dryers perform comparably based on years of testing. Gas dryers are generally cheaper to run and have a lower environmental impact, contributing about 60 percent less carbon dioxide. Gas dryers cost about $50 more than comparable electric models, but the savings in fuel costs should more than make up the difference.

With a little research, we can save money on many of the products that we use everyday as well as help the environment. Never forget that, “when we ask someone to throw something away, there is no away”.

This article brought to you by A to Z Interiors of Raleigh, LLC.