Tips for selecting energy-efficient products

Various kinds of "green" products, including home appliances, are now available on the market amid an increasing awareness of using environmentally friendly products.

Green products are gaining popularity because they use less energy and thus help reduce air pollution and conserve natural resources.

Not many people, however, are well-informed about how to choose, for instance, energy-efficient refrigerators and how to use home appliances so that they do not negatively affect the environment. Below are some green tips taken from www.greenhome.com on environmentally friendly appliances and efficient methods of use.

Refrigerators

- Choose the best model of a refrigerator that uses only half the energy of models that passes the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS). - Decide on the size, type and features you want; do not buy a refrigerator that is too big for your needs. If you are not keeping your fridge at least two-thirds full or your freezer at least three-quarters full, it is probably too big for your needs.

- Make sure you check the energy label. Generally, the larger the refrigerator, the greater the energy consumption.

- Two-door refrigerators with a top or bottom freezer are generally more efficient than side-by-side models -- check the stars and energy consumption rate.

- Manual defrost models tend to use less energy than frost-free, or automatic defrost, models, but must be defrosted periodically to remain energy-efficient. However, the best frost-free models are now as good as manual defrost models -- check the energy label!

Washing machines/dryers

- Avoid using energy-hungry dryers. Old-fashioned clotheslines utilizing sun and wind still produce the freshest smelling clothes, without the need for perfumes to simulate the experience.

- The laundry room should be separated from living spaces and supplied with both an exhaust fan and an intake for fresh air, as laundry products can be extraordinarily toxic. Heat and moisture from laundry can breed harmful molds, if not properly vented.

Dishwashers

- Look for energy/water consumption specifications before choosing. Many cheap domestic machines use too much water and too much electricity and make too much noise while spewing toxic perfumes and chemical odors from detergents and drying agents indoors.

- Residues from perfumes, phosphates and surfactants contribute to the overload in sewage treatment facilities and contamination of groundwater. A better job can sometimes be done hand-washing in a double basin using safe soap.

- Some commercial dish washing machines are capable of doing a better job in a shorter time with less water and energy.