Saving energy doesn't mean sacrificing comfort or convenience. Newer appliances, for example, can use far less power than older models -- your house could have a fridge that is costing you over $300 a year to operate when newer models cost just $50 a year to run.

Similarly, compact luorescents and other newer lighting sources can use much less power than standard incandescent lighting -- use our lighting calculator to see what simply switching bulbs can save you.

And don't forget about one of your biggest electricity users -- your airconditioner. Make sure it is properly maintained and consider the advantages of investing in a new ENERGY STAR unit.

ENERGY STAR

The international ENERGY STAR symbol is a simple way for consumers to identify products that are among the most energy-efficient on the market. Only manufacturers and retailers whose products meet the ENERGY STAR criteria can label their products with this symbol. Choosing an ENERGY STAR-labelled product over a conventional model could save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs.

The Clean Air Consumer Guide provides useful information on energy efficiency for many household appliances and equipment. It also ranks vehicles currently on the market based on emissions and costs. Visit www.cleanairconsumerguide.org for more information or to download the Guide.

Products that are covered in the Energy Star program:

• Home Appliances
  
• Heating, Cooling and Ventilation
  
• Lighting and Signage
  
• Consumer Electronics
  
• Office Equipment
  
• Windows and Doors
  
• Commercial and Industrial Products
  
  

Resources:
Natural Resources Canada: www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energystar/

EnerGuide for Appliances

The EnerGuide label is a tool to help you make an energy-wise choice when buying a new appliance. It shows how much energy appliances consume in a year of normal service and makes it easy to compare the energy efficiency of each model to others of the same size and class. Most appliances carry the EnerGuide label but the label itself does not mean that the appliance is energy efficient -- it is simply there to inform you about how much energy a particular model consumes.

Major electrical household appliances and room air conditioners sold in Canada must meet minimum energy efficiency standards and are required to display an EnerGuide label. Information on the EnerGuide label is the result of extensive testing based on Canadian Standards Association (CSA) test procedures.

Use our appliance and air conditioner calculators to see the dollar and emissions difference between different appliance and air conditioner models and for tips on getting the most from these units.

The EnerGuide label for airconditioners and large appliances will probably be found in the manufacturer's printed material (user manuals, etc), instead of affixed directly to the appliance.

EnerGuide ratings for major household Appliances These range from the most energy-efficient (appliances with the lowest energy consumption) to the least energy-efficient (appliances with the highest energy consumption) in a given size and type category. For major appliances, an indicator arrow on the left side of the EnerGuide scale means lower operating costs and long-term savings.

EnerGuide ratings for Room Air Conditioners These are based on the annual Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) rather than total annual energy consumption. The higher the ratio, the more energy-efficient the air conditioner. When shopping for a room air conditioner, look for display models with high EERs and indicator arrows to the right (opposite to appliances) on the EnerGuide scale.

Don't forget — the first price you see on an appliance isn't the final price. Once you have bought the appliance, you'll continue to pay every time you use it, and in busy houses with mountains of laundry and piles of dirty dishes, energy costs can really add up.

Resources:
Natural Resources Canada: www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energuide/home.cfm

References:
www.eneract.org/resources.htm

Energy Tips

The folks at EnerAct have put together a Top Ten list for saving energy around your home:

> Ten ways to save energy and reduce your bill

Or visit the One Less Tonne website to calculate some ways you can reduce your climate change impact.

> Suppliers of solar, wind and other renewable products and services

> Links to utilities, governments, organizations and green communities with information on energy conservation