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Looking at the real cost of appliances

When shopping for new appliances, many people forget to look at the real price tag -- the purchase price plus the cost of energy to run that fridge, stove or dishwasher over its lifetime. With many appliances lasting 15-20 years, energy costs can equal or even exceed the actual purchase price of the appliance. That's why it is important to consider how energy efficient an appliance is as well as the purchase price.

Fortunately, the Energuide label found on all appliances allows you to easily compare the energy efficiency of different makes and models. However, the Energuide lable does not mean that the appliance is energy efficient. If you want to know if an appliance is in the top of its energy class, look for the ENERGY STAR label. (Even with an ENERGY STAR label, there can be differences in energy efficiency between models, so still consult the Energuide label as well.)

Many of today's appliances are far more energy efficient than older models. Today's refrigerators, for example, use about half the electricity that ones built ten years ago consume. Front loading washing machines can use up to 40% less electricity than conventional top-loading machines (they also use less water and leave less water in clothes, meaning faster drying times). For electric ranges, self-cleaning models are better insulated and therefore more energy efficient while induction or halogen cooktops use less energy than conventional burners.

For cooking and drying, you may also want to consider the advantages of switching to gas appliances. Switching your stove and dryer to gas could save you up to 30% on your energy bill because of the much higher efficiency obtained when gas is used directly to produce heat. You will also be helping to lower polluting emissions by reducing the need for coal -fired electricity. Switching to gas for clothes drying in the average home will reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by 3/4 of a tonne; switiching for cooking will reduce such emissions by 1/2 a tonne; and switching for water heating will reduce them by 3 tonnes. As well, you will be eliminating emissions of toxics like mercury, lead and cadmium that result from burning coal. You can use the Enbridge Gas comparison calculator or Union Gas comparison calculator to see the cost savings of switching to gas for various uses.
Calculate the energy price tag for your appliances
You can use the calculator below to compare the energy and air polluting emission difference between the most and least efficient models currently available. (Remember that even the worst current model may be more energy efficient than a 10-15 year old appliance.) If you know the Energuide rating for the appliance you are considering purchasing, you can use our lifetime energy bill calculator to calculate its lifetime energy price tag (based on lifetime averages compiled by Natural Resources Canada)
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Best and Worst Appliance Energy Cost Calculator
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The cost of running your appliance over its lifetime could be equal to or greater than the actual cost of the appliance itself. The calculator below will show the cost and pollution differences between the most and least efficient models currently available over the appliance's average lifetime. (15-20 year old appliances will probably be even less efficient -- and more costly to run -- than the worst model available today.)


Operating cost over lifetime*
Smog emissions over lifetime
Climate change emissions
'
based on average appliance lifetimes calculated by NRCan
Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
 Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
 Equivalent CO2 emissions
Most effecient model available

$

 kg kg cars per year
Least effecient model available $ kg kg cars per year
Savings from purchasing most efficient model $ kg kg
CO2 reduction equivalent to taking

cars off the road each year


*Electricity price used is 9.7 cents per kilowatt hour, based on an average electricity rate of 5.5 cents per kWh. Other variable charges (distribution, debt retirement) are based on rates charged by Toronto Hydro. Customers must also pay a $12.43 fixed monthly charge, which is not included in these calculations. For more details, click here.

Emission impacts
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) creates smog and acid rain.
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is also a major contributor to smog and a major cause of acid rain
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major cause of global climate change, which threatens to disrupt ecosystems and lead to unstable and dangerous weather patterns

Know the appliance's Energuide rating? Use our lifetime energy bill calculator to calculate its energy costs.
You can also use the Hydro One appliance calculator to see the total annual energy cost for all the appliances in your home.


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The information on this site is for non-commercial information purposes only and does not represent an endorsement by the OCAA of any of the companies or services mentioned. Although we make every effort to keep the information on this site current and accurate, the OCAA does not guarantee the accuracy of any pricing and supplier information provided. All pricing information should be checked directly with suppliers.