Appliances
Objective: The objective of the assignment is to create the most energy efficient and economical house over a period of 10 years, which is the life expectancy of the models. We are given a few specific appliances already, but in our quest to be efficient, we will look for even more efficient models for the house.
Appliances that we are given:
|
Appliances |
Capacity | Type | Brand | Price | Power Consumption | Life Cost |
| Refrigerator | 18.8-18.9 cu ft | Top mount | Kitchen Aid | $750 | 442 kWh/yr | $1103.60 |
| Dishwasher | 24 inch | Built in | GE | $500 | 387 kWh/yr | $809.60 |
| Water Heater | 50 gallon | Electric | Kenmore | $250 | 4879 kWh/yr | $4153.20 |
| Clothes Washer | 3.1 cu ft | Front load | GE | $730 | 260 kWh/yr | $938.00 |
Calculations of the Life Cycle Analysis for each model can be found by clicking on the hyperlinks above.
I found the following appliances that are more energy-efficient than the ones above:
|
Appliances |
Capacity | Type | Brand | Price | Power Consumption | Life Cost |
| Refrigerator | 18.8 | Top mount | Kenmore | $849.88 | 387 kWh/yr | $1159.48 |
| Refrigerator | 18.8 | Top mount | Maytag | $549.00 | 413 kWh/yr | $879.40** |
| Dishwasher | 24 inch | Built in | Asko | $749.00 | 278 kWh/yr | $971.40 |
| Dishwasher | 24 inch | Built in | Frigidaire | $259.00 | 374 kWh/yr | $558.20** |
| Water Heater | 50 gallon | Electric | Kenmore | $199.99 | 4622 kWh/yr | $3897.59** |
| Water Heater | 55 gallon | Electric | Kenmore | $309.99 | 4721 kWh/yr | $4086.79 |
| Clothes Washer | 3.5 cu ft | Front load | Frigidaire | $629.00 | 215 kWh/yr | $801.00** |
| Clothes washer | 3.7 cu ft | Front load | LG | $999.99 | 253 kWh/yr | $1202.39 |
Click on the hyperlink above to arrive at the link for each product.
The calculation for the life cycle analysis and the basic features for each model can be found here.
** denotes the least expensive option.
My task from this point is to choose the best model for each type of appliances, and I chose the cheaper (in terms of life cost) of the two for each type. I did so because although some electrical appliances are more energy-efficient than the others, the difference in the starting price is too steep to justify the purchase. Thus, I made a compromise: I chose appliances that are more energy efficient than the ones we started with, and they're cheaper in the long run.
The following questions are addressed:
There is no additional money necessary because the new equipment will be cheaper than the old ones.
(442 – 413) + (387 – 374) + (4879 – 4622) + (260-215) = 344 kWh
Electricity bill alone, we would save $27.52. (344 x 0.08 = $27.52)
There is no payback period because the appliances are cheaper already than the original models. We save from the start!
1103.60 + 809.60 + 4153.20 + 938.00 = $7003.80 ß Lifetime cost of original equipment.
879.40 + 558.20 + 3897.59 + 801 = $6136.19 ß Lifetime cost of mew equipment.
7003.80 – 6136.19 = $867.61 ß total savings over the period of 10 years.
Your Estimated Annual Cost Savings: $
| Your
Energy Efficiency Efforts Will Also Result in the Following Pollution Reductions: |
|
|---|---|
| Type of Pollution | Amount of Reduction per Year |
| Greenhouse Gases (CO2) | 696 Pounds |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) | 0 Pounds |
| Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) | 2 Pounds |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | 0 Pounds |
| Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) | 5 Pounds |
| Particulates (PM10) | 0 Pounds |
| Toxic Metals Pollution | Amount of Reduction per Year |
| Mercury (Hg) | 13 Milligrams |
Conclusion:
With a bit of research and time, one can really cut down on not only the energy consumption of the appliances, but also the price of the appliances themselves; it's a win win situation. 867.61 dollars are a significant sum. The environmental benefit, which is the focus of this class, is enormous. By switching to these appliances, we prevent 6960 lbs of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere.
