AHAM's Blog

BIG NEWS! DOE INITIATES APPLIANCE REBATE PROGRAM

Today the Department of Energy announced the funding for the Energy Efficient Appliance Consumer Rebate Program, which will deliver direct rebates to consumers for the purchase of ENERGY STAR appliances.  AHAM has been working with the DOE since this program was first announced in the stimulus bill, a.k.a the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as we believe it is the most practical and effective step a homeowner can take to increase energy efficiency of their home and immediately reduce utility bills.   

 

Now, it is up to each State Energy Office to register its interest in obtaining funding for this program.  Several states already have announced that they will be applying for the funding.  Arizonans could get $6.2 million for appliances!   Missouri and Kansas are lining up for their share of the funding.  Residents of New Mexico are ready to help stimulate the economy and decrease their energy bills with their share of the funding, amounting to $2 million.  

AHAM encourages the states to submit their plans to DOE early to put money in their residents’ hands as quickly as possible.   

If you are in the market for a new appliance, tell us what you think, and which appliance you will buy first. 

Promoting Appliance Sustainability

Sustainability and “being green” remain hot buzzwords in 2009, even as the economy cools down.  Most industries have benefited from marketing their sustainability efforts.  In fact, the green building materials market grew 45% between 2003 and 2008 to $57 billion.  

For the home appliance industry, sustainable practices can include designing products to use less, or more natural materials.  It can include reducing energy usage or packaging materials.  It can also include designing products that use post-consumer recycled materials. 

Household appliances have been demonstrating sustainability for many years.  Since the 1970s, major appliance manufacturers have been designing products that show significant decreases in energy consumption each year.  

And, beyond energy, 90% of major appliances are recycled at end-of-life!  The steel used in your refrigerator today may be the same steel used in your new car tomorrow.  Recycled steel is efficient and reduces the drain on our environment by avoiding the mining of coal and iron ore.   

The home appliance industry has made dramatic improvements to appliances over the recent years and is committed to providing high-performance sustainable products for years to come.  Producing and promoting sustainable products is one of the most important efforts we can make to improve our lives, and the lives of the generations to come.

Cool Off with a Room Air Conditioner

There is only one week left until Memorial Day – the unofficial start of summer!  Other than BBQ’s and pool parties, you might also be thinking about how you are going to cool your house during the upcoming summer months.  Room air conditioners are a practical way to cool down when the temperature heats up, especially for people who want to save money by only cooling the rooms they use the most.

Consumers who purchase new room air conditioners can enjoy new features such as varying fan speeds, remote controls, timers and different types of filters.  The average room air conditioner manufactured in 2008 also use 23% less energy than units made in 1990—ENERGY STAR units can save you even more!. 

Before going to the store to purchase a new unit, consumers should visit www.cooloff.org to search through a list of models that are AHAM certified.  The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) tests and certifies room air conditioners in an independent lab to verify that the product performs according to the manufacturers’ claims.  Cooloff.org also offers a cooling calculator for consumers to determine the proper cooling capacity for their room.  When you have calculated the number of BTU’s , you will be able to search for a correctly sized model in the AHAM Directory of Certified Models.   

Beat the Heat!  Check out the site today and cool off with a new room air conditioner!

Will Climate Change Reach Pennsylvania Avenue?

It is safe to say that the momentum is not behind the enactment of a broad climate change bill this year.  However, the more important question is whether it will happen next year.

For those who are still unsure whether the climate change bill will be completed this year, let me provide a few reasons it is unlikely:

• Chair of the Senate Committee with jurisdiction (Environment & Public Works) hasn’t released legislation yet.
• Midwest Democratic Senators have said they don’t see a bill moving this year.
• Congressman Van Hollen (D-Md.) has suggested a vote might not take place this year.  This is significant because Van Hollen is head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and is responsible for electing more Democrats to the House and ensuring vulnerable Democratic members get re-elected.  This tells me that there is a worry that a climate change bill may not be selling well in swing districts.
• Chairman Waxman is still struggling to find a majority of votes in his committee to pass a bill.

Using a crystal ball to look at the political landscape in 2010 – which is President Obama’s first mid-term election year—I see that politicians will be more risk averse the closer it gets to an election, and this one is just 6 months away.  Also, will politicians feel that the climate change “issue” is better to have at their side during the 2010 campaign rather than trying to campaign on the success of a compromised climate change bill, which no one may be excited about?  And what will the state of our economy be and will it provide fodder for the opponents of climate change legislation who characterize it as an energy tax?

New Data Shows Home Appliance Energy Savings

AHAM has released the 2008 Energy Efficiency and Consumption Trends data for home appliances.  This data, based on 2008 shipments of major appliances, shows the continuing pattern of decreased energy consumption.

Manufacturers continue to make improvements every year that reduce the amount of energy used to operate home appliances.  The average refrigerator made in 2008 consumed 3% less energy than those made in the previous year.  In fact, the average refrigerator sold today uses less energy than a 60 watt light bulb that is left on 24 hours a day.

In a time where people are making an effort to make their homes more efficient, appliance manufacturers are also committed to making the most efficient products.  Replacing older, less efficient appliances with newer models can lead to major savings on your next energy bill. 

Click here to purchase the new 2008 Trends in Energy Efficiency Data.

Tuesday Tips for Energy Savings

The Washington Post recently published a story that helps people who are considering buying a new high-efficiency clothes washer.  Some important highlights explain what exactly a high-efficiency clothes washer is and how much you really save by using one.  The article, Time to Say Bye to Washers of Old states:

"High-efficiency machines usually include the following:

-- Larger capacity. Energy Star models must have a capacity of at least 1.6 cubic feet.

-- A rotating drum, as opposed to a central agitator (or post), so clothes are soaped and saturated without the entire machine basin having to fill with water.

-- High-pressure spray rinsing, also to save water.

-- An efficient motor and precise settings to conserve energy and water.

-- A faster spin cycle to wring out excess water and cut drying time."

Most HE washers are front-loading, but some manufacturers also make top-loading HE washers.  This is another option for you to consider while shopping! 

The amount of money you can save with an HE clothes washer really depends on how often you will use the machine, the cost of your utilities and other factors.  If you would like to calculate your exact savings, you can visit the ENERGY STAR Web site and download their calculator.  It can be found under the Resources tab.  This page will also let you search for rebates on ENERGY STAR appliances in your area.

Tuesday Tips for Energy Savings

Keep the cold air inside the refrigerator! 

In order to get the most out of your refrigerator, and use the least amount of energy, don't keep the door open any longer than you need to.  While newer refrigerators do use a lot less energy than those of 20 years ago --about 50%-- you still want to prevent the cold air from escaping, regardless of the age of your appliance. 

You can conduct a simple test with a dollar bill and the rubber seal around your refrigerator door.  Simply close the door on the dollar and see how hard it is to pull it out.  If it comes out easily, your refrigerator may be leaking too much air to the outside.

  

Tuesday Tips for Energy Savings

Today's tip is a dual energy savings and safety tip on clothes dryer venting.  AHAM members urge consumers to use rigid or semi-rigid sheet metal venting material when installing their clothes dryers.  Proper venting can help improve efficiency and is also recommended as a safer choice compared to flex foil or plastic venting.  Metal venting also helps to improve airflow, avoid potential safety hazards and shorten drying time, which helps your clothes last longer and saves you money.  If you notice your drying time beginning to increase, check the dryer venting inside your home to make sure lint has not reduced air flow, and always clean your lint traps in the dryer after every cycle.

You may read all of AHAM's clothes dryer safety tips in Helpful Hints for Using your Clothes Dryer Safely and Effectively.

Tuesday Tips for Energy Savings

Tips for this week focus on your dishwasher.  If you currently wash your dishes by hand, you may actually save more water and energy by switching to a dishwasher, depending on the dishwasher and how you are washing by hand. 

• When using your dishwasher, don't pre-rinse dishes.  Most modern dishwashers can clean even the dirtiest dishes as long as you scrape off food and empty liquids. 
• Fill your dishwasher completely before running it.  It will use the same amount of water regardless of what is inside, so be sure to use it wisely. 

If you follow the tips above, you may be able to save more energy by using a dishwasher- not to mention a lot of effort!

Tuesday Tips for Energy Savings

As we mentioned previously in Five appliances that help you save money, you can cook dinner at home for less than $.25, while eating out at a restaurant will clearly cost you a lot more.  But once you decide you are going to stay in and channel your inner Rachel Ray, how should you decide to cook a meal to maximize energy savings?  Here are a few guidelines to help:

• Think small whenever possible... if you have two ovens, use the smaller one, and use the smallest pan needed for the job.  You should also match the pan size to the burner size.
• If you are cooking a small amount of food for only one or two people, consider using a smaller microwave or toaster oven.  You can also try using a crockpot for stews that call for a long cooking time.

Come back next Tuesday for more tips!