Read on to learn more about the best green appliances to make your home more sustainable and eco-friendly.
If your monthly utility bills feel higher than ever, you may take some comfort in knowing you are not alone. Switching to green appliances is one of the most effective ways to lower your monthly expenses and drastically reduce your harmful environmental impact.
Whether you choose to purchase a coffee maker that uses recyclable coffee filters or coffee pods, energy-efficient dishwashers, or downsize your fridge and freezer setup, making the switch to green home appliances carries many hugely advantageous benefits that are difficult to resist.
Advantages of Sustainability
Making the switch to sustainable household appliances can be daunting, especially when you consider the financial investment it requires. But it is essential to remember that switching to eco-friendly appliances carries numerous highly beneficial advantages.
Eco-friendly appliances not only reduce unnecessary water wastage but can also significantly reduce energy consumption, particularly with heavily used appliances. This will reduce your carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment, save you money, and reduce your monthly utility bills, ensuring the costly initial investment will pay off in the long run.
Furthermore, certain appliances, like air fryers, cook food faster than traditional methods, like ovens and convection microwaves, saving you time, money, energy, and effort.
Top Picks
While appliances may differ between homes, there are a select number of popular choices that all households include. Their high demand ensures that there is a wide range of different sustainable models on the market to suit many budgets and personal needs.
Dishwasher
Dishwashers are among the kitchen’s biggest energy users. Each cycle requires a massive amount of water and energy to complete, contributing to higher utility bills and a larger environmental impact.
However, eco-friendly dishwashers are designed to minimize water consumption and energy usage without compromising the quality and effectiveness of the cleaning cycles. Models with Energy Star labels are proven to meet strict guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and should be at the top of your list for sustainable purchases.
Air Fryer
The air fryer is the ultimate eco-friendly household appliance. Specifically created to replace multiple other appliances around your kitchen, like a toaster, microwave, and deep fryer, it can easily be used instead of your oven for many meals. Not only does an oven use an incredible amount of energy to preheat and cook your food, it raises the temperature of your home as a whole.
This incredibly versatile machine is the perfect addition to any kitchen, with the ability to do everything from baking to frying and roasting. Select an energy-efficient model large enough to feed your entire family but not overly big, which could become unnecessarily wasteful.
Induction Cooktops
Induction cooktops use clever electromagnetic induction heat that rapidly and efficiently transfers heat to pots and pans placed directly on top of the cooktop. Because the cooktop is only activated once special-designed cookware is used, it saves energy and eliminates the use of natural gas.
Opt for setups containing easy-to-navigate control panels that allow for simple temperature control and an auto-switch mode that ensures you never use more energy than needed. Additionally, with no open flames or hot surfaces, they are safer to use, especially in homes with small children and pets.
Refrigerator
Fridges are among the most energy-consuming appliances in your home. This is largely because they are required to stay on 24/7, and if you are at the beginning of your journey to converting to efficient appliances, many experts recommend beginning with your fridge.
The key is opting for an Energy Star-labeled model. While they are typically smaller than traditional alternatives, smart organization within your fridge will ensure you have enough storage space and a significantly reduced energy bill. Furthermore, if you are currently using more than one fridge or freezer at home, consider downsizing to just one model or selecting a smaller freezer or fridge to lower your energy consumption even further.
Coffee Maker
The convenience of a Keurig or single-use coffee pod machine is hard to beat. Unfortunately, plastic coffee pods are extremely bad for the environment, as their one-time usage means they quickly end up in landfills worldwide.
The good news is that many popular coffee maker brands have recognized the desperate need for sustainable options within their industry and have made great strides in reducing unnecessary wastage by introducing reusable coffee pods, used coffee pod recycling schemes, and the ability to purchase loose coffee beans to refill your machine yourself.
Washer & Dryer
The average American does roughly 300 loads of laundry every year, which can result in extraordinarily high water and energy consumption. Alongside your fridge and dishwasher, eco-friendly washers and dryers are the biggest investments you should consider making if you have yet to do so.
Appliances that carry the coveted Energy Star-rating sticker of approval are proven to use less water and energy, saving you money and reducing your harmful environmental impact. When possible, many experts strongly recommend finding ways to reduce your usage and reliance on dryers, such as hanging clothes to dry on a clothesline and replacing wasteful dryer sheets with wool dryer balls.
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