Energy Efficiency Tips And What To Look Out For

It is extremely important to take into consideration the Energy Efficiency rating of an appliance. Energy efficiency means the impact that an appliance has on the environment when it is in use. The more energy-efficient your appliance is the more energy you will save and aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When you purchase an appliance with a low energy rating ( A+++) you are also cutting down the electricity cost of running the machine in your home. Therefore saving you money and helping the environment.

When purchasing a new appliance is essential to take note of the energy efficiency label found at the top left-hand corner of the appliance. It has all of the vital information you need to know about the energy rating of the appliance. It is part of the South African Bureau of Standards regulations that this information is displayed on all appliances clearly for customers to see. Therefore informing customers to make conscious decisions regarding their purchase and its effect on the environment.

How to read the Energy Efficiency label

The South African Energy efficiency Label has a variety of different information including the following.

• The South African Energy Efficiency Logo ( Which means this rating has been approved by the Organisation)
• Type of Appliance
• The Manufacturing company or who introduced it to the South African Market
• The Appliance model
• The Seven Energy Efficient Levels
• Energy Performance and Class
• Performance and Characteristics of Appliances
• Additional information on appliance performance
• The Relevant National Standard (SANS) number

 

Energy Efficiency Tips And What To Look Out For : The Seven Energy Efficient Levels

The most important information to take into consideration on the label is the energy efficiency level as this determines how energy efficient the appliance is. This is therefore shown ranked from Green A+++ which is the most efficient to D which is highlighted in Red as the least efficient. The letter is then displayed in Bold and highlighted in black. The Performance and characteristics which fall below the energy level showcase the consumption of the appliance. Which means how much electricity it will use per cycle or load. The label also contains information on the capacity of the unit, the water consumption, and the noise level it makes.

Tips on how to make your home more energy efficient

• Service your air-conditioner before summer starts
• Use a dishwasher to wash your dishes as it uses significantly less water to wash dishes
• Wash your clothing on a cold cycle
• Replace the filters of your appliances such as tumble dryers, washing machines and dishwashers
• Avoid leaving unused appliances plugged in
• Try not to open your oven while cooking/baking this changes the temperature and your oven has to work over time to get back to the temperature.
• Switch to LED lights as they use less energy

Remember to shop Hirsch’s wide range of energy efficient appliances here and view our blog for recipes, news, information, online networking, and more