It's not easy being green, says the children's song, and that certainly applies to anyone wading through the many claims of energy efficiency in today's marketplace.
When it comes to household appliances there's a simple test.
"If you look at your refrigerator and you see any of the following: almond, avocado green, wood or chrome trim - ask yourself if it's not past time to replace it," says Warrington Ellacott, senior manager of government relations for Whirlpool Canada. He adds that where appliances and the environment are concerned, older isn't better.
For decor enthusiasts, new appliance colours such as apple red and aspen are adding an element of excitement to appliance purchases, says Mr. Ellacott. However it's the green aspect that environmentalists seek knowing that by lowering water and energy consumption, they are helping the environment while saving money.
Every new appliance sold in Canada must have an EnerGuide label affixed. This indicates estimated energy usage in kilowatt hours (kWh) and shows how it compares to minimum government standards.
Consumers can use this information to calculate what is called the "second price tag" for energy costs. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) offers a simple formula for this: multiply the kWh by local electricity cost, then multiple this by the life expectancy of the appliance listed as industry averages on the NRCan site.
For energy-conscious consumers wanting to make quicker on-the-spot decisions, Ontario's chief energy conservation officer suggests looking for a third piece of information on the EnerGuide label - an Energy Star rating.
"This will tell consumers that this appliance is among the top performers in terms of energy use," says Peter Love. "Purchasing any new appliance will mean greater energy efficiency and an Energy Star rating indicates that a particular appliance performs from 10 to 50 per cent more efficiently than government standards."
Using the Interactive Energy Cost Calculator on NRCan's website and its most recent data, the "second price tag" for a standard clothes washer (573 kWh with a life expectancy of 14 years) in Ontario rings in at $57 per year in electricity or $803 over the life of the washer.
Substituting the Energy Star average of 267 kWh indicates an annual cost of $26 per year or $374 for the life of the washer, less than half the energy cost of the standard washer.
While Energy Star ratings are an indication of higher performance in general, an article in the October issue of Consumer Reports raised questions about how Energy Star testing is conducted. To illustrate, they tested an LG refrigerator that carries a company-stated energy usage of 547 kWh (done with the icemaker turned off according to Department Of Energy procedures).
When Consumers Report tested the unit under what they call "real life" use with the icemaker on, the result was 1,110 kWh.
Mr. Love calls the Energy Star program highly reputable and says he has "confidence that Energy Star will continue to evolve toward better standards. ... Energy Star is an excellent place to start" for consumer information.
Many jurisdictions and utilities offer rebates for purchasing energy efficient appliances including those that save on water.
Laundry
Front-load washers have brought dramatic improvements in energy efficiency: greater capacity, dramatic decrease in water usage, easier on clothes, and high spin cycles meaning less time in the dryer. Ranging in cost from $1,200 to $3,000, the energy and water efficiency of these machines frequently make them eligible for rebate programs like those offered by cities such as Toronto and Victoria.
Steam laundry is another new technology that will translate into energy savings, says Mr. Ellacott. "It can remove odours, sanitize clothes, and there's little or no ironing so you save time, too."
Stoves
Ovens and cook tops don't carry Energy Star ratings since they are "all 100-per-cent efficient," says Mr. Love. It's hot or it's not. "There's not much you can do to heating; by definition it's as good as it gets."
As technology improves, that will change. Mr. Ellacott points to the emerging induction method of cooking that relies on electro-magnetic energy instead of radiant heat. "It's instant, like gas, and it's extremely fast."
Dishwashers
Today's dishwashers use 95 per cent less water than those of 30 years ago and allow for reduced energy in heating and drying. Reflecting these improvements, an Energy Star-rated dishwasher must be at least 41-per-cent more efficient than the government minimum. With the majority of new machines meeting this target, replacing an old dishwasher can mean substantial energy savings.
Refrigerators
Energy Star levels were raised in 2008 to reflect greater efficiency in modern refrigerators. Ontario's Every Kilowatt Counts campaign indicates that a newer Energy Star refrigerator or freezer will save between $120 and $150 a year. This is mainly due to improvements in compressors, says Mr. Ellacott, but he adds that good maintenance is important to long-term efficiency. Customized temperature controls for different foods offer savings also.
In general, top-freezer models are the most efficient, bottom-freezer models next and side-by-side models the least energy efficient.
Smart technology
The future holds dramatic improvements in energy efficiency with increased use of smart technology aimed at tying energy use to off-peak periods.
Appliances already have features such as delay timers so you can load the washer and set it to start cleaning during the night when electricity is least expensive. Down the road, Mr. Ellacott says, we'll see appliances hooked right into the power supply. "If the grid is under stress it can send a signal to the product to wait a bit."
Consumers can also do a little smart sleuthing themselves by using watt metres to measure just how many kWh an appliance is using. You plug the appliance into the metre and the metre into an electrical outlet.
A digital reading appears showing how much electricity is being used.
This just might make being green a lot easier.
