How to Go Green: Home Appliances

When you're making the transition from traditional practices to going green, there's a lot to learn. While you may want to stick with wood because it is more natural and recyclable than plastic, you'll soon learn that the purchasing of wood contributes to deforestation. Buying something that's complex is not only a problem to you, but in fact, is less recyclable because it is not easily disassembled. For this reason, going green takes a lot of work, money and determination. As we all know, though, the ends certainly justify the means. We have to start now if we want to limit the impact of global warming on the world we live in. When learning about eco-friendly materials, it's important to note that they don't simply have to stick to furniture or items. Rather, you can have eco-friendly appliances simply because they use less energy than traditional appliances. Fortunately, going green for home appliances is far easier than most other transitions. Basically, there's one primary thing that you have to look for:

The Energy Star
Created in 1992 as a United States federal program, Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient products. Depending on the product, because some require less energy use reduction than others, they are admitted into the Energy Star program and are given a label certifying their status. Energy Star products are basically focused on home appliances, like kitchen necessities, computer items, and certain types of lighting. In 2006 alone, nearly $14 billion were saved from the Energy Star program, estimates the EPA. Here are some examples of home appliances you may need that can be found with the Energy Star certification:

Refrigerators, like the ones found here save over 20% of the energy used for traditional refrigerators. As you can tell from the images, the designs are modern and efficient, meaning that usefulness is not compromised for going green.

Dishwashers, which you can find here, are required to save over 40% of the energy compared to normal dishwashers. From personal experience, I purchased Frigidaire Precision Select 24 and can say that it functions just as efficiently as the one I had with my parents back home.

Energy Star fluorescent lights are probably the most significant energy reducer, relative to the average incandescent light. Astonishingly, they require 90% less energy and can last up to ten times as long as the incandescent light that may be in your house right now. Sure, they're more expensive but they're certainly worth it, considering the heightened efficiency and positive effect on the environment.

Even more surprisingly, you can actually buy houses that are Energy Star certified. Of course, don't go running for a new house because, most of the time, they only save up to 15% energy. Nevertheless, if you're buying a new house, it's not a bad idea to look for the Energy Star label. Comparing the amount of energy used by a house to that of a normal home appliance, an Energy Star certified home will have the most significant effect on helping the environment out.