Energy Management Handbook for Homeowners phần 2 doc

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When buying an appliance, you pay more than just the selling price; you commit yourself to paying the cost

of running the appliance for as long as you own it.

These energy costs can add up quickly.

For example, running a refrigerator 15 to 20 years costs two to three times as much as the initial purchase price of

the unit; and the 100-watt light bulb you bought for 50 cents will cost about $6 in electricity over its short life.

Life-cycle Costing

The sum of the purchase price and the energy cost of running an appliance over its lifetime is called its life-cycle cost.

The life-cycle costs of energy-efficient appliances are lower than those of average models.

EnergyGuide Labels

When you shop for a major appliance, look for the yellow and black EnergyGuide labels (see page 9) that can help

you choose the most efficient model you can afford.

Appliance labeling was mandated by Congress as part of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. Labels

must be displayed on seven types of major appliances. These seven major appliances account for about 73 percent of

all energy consumed in American homes. New appliance labeling rules, passed in 1994 by the Federal Trade

Commission to make energy-usage information easier to understand, began showing up on appliances on July 1, 1995.

The biggest change in the labeling of refrigerators, refrigerator/freezers, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers and

water heaters is a switch in the comparison base from an estimated annual operating cost of the appliance to its annual

energy usage in kilowatt hours of electricity or therms of natural gas. Cost information will still be provided.

For Missouri residents in 1993, the average price for electricity was 7.3 cents/kWh and for natural gas was 53.5

cents/therm.

Federal law requires that EnergyGuide labels be placed on all new refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, dishwash￾ers, clothes washers, room and central air conditioners and heat pumps.

For additional information, you may contact the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy or the Association

of Home Appliance Manufacturers for up-to-date information on appliance efficiency.

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

1001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 535

Washington, D.C. 20202

Phone (202) 429-8873

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

20 North Wacker Dr.

Chicago, IL 60606

Phone (312) 984-5800

Appliances