Is your energy bill scary? Slaying energy vampires during your remodel can help you and Americans save millions.

In the spirit of Halloween, the EPA today warns us all to be on the watch for lurking energy vampires – or vampire power. These are the electronics and adapters that consume electricity when they are not being used. Power adapters and phone chargers are easy vampires power suckers to spot, and also easy to slay. Every energy vampire you vanquish saves you money, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and helps in the fight against climate change.

“EPA encourages everyone to look for vampires in their home and get rid of this energy waste,” said Brian McLean, director of EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Protection. “Using less energy means less greenhouse gas emissions.”

The average U.S. household spends $100 per year to power devices while they are off (or in standby mode). On a national basis, this standby power accounts for more than 100 billion kilowatt hours of annual U.S. electricity consumption and more than $10 billion in annual energy costs.

These simple steps can protect our homes from energy vampires:

• Unplugging power adapters or battery chargers when equipment is fully charged or disconnected from the charger.
• Using a power strip that can be switched off when electronics and appliances are not in use.
• Looking for the Energy Star label when purchasing products.

Come back soon to read more about vampire power products at GetWithGreen.com.  Boo!

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In today’s marketplace  greenwashing is rampant.  Many companies are purposefully misleading consumers to believe that their products are environmentally friendly in order to catch that ever-important environmentally aware segment of the population.  In such a day, I wondered if there was really a thing as a green vacuum cleaner.

Sure, I’d heard the green benefits of installing a central vacuum system.  Longer life and no bags both equal less impact on the landfills.  With my modest pocketbook, the upfront price of $2000 plus to install a central vacuum system was out of my league.  A portable vacuum was more my speed.

In my attempt to answer this question, the friendly people at Eureka offered to send me their new, green Envirovac to try for myself.  I explained to them that I live in a busy household with two energetic kids, a frantic husband and one crazy cat.   Carpet, hardwoods, linoleum, and drapes are all included in the household.  The brave people at Eureka didn’t seem the least bit concerned.  Game on.

The Eureka Envirovac arrived in a 100% recycled and unbleached box.  The vacuum boasted such environmentally responsible features as an 8 amp motor (33% less energy to operate) and a washable HEPA filter (cleaner air and less waste).  How very green!

Now for the real test.  My eight year-old’s bedroom.  Walls of pink and floor of stink.  After a thorough going over with the Envirovac, average is the best way to describe the suction and power.  It picked-up most of the crumbs and lint yet the carpet pile was left matted.

Then, came the baseboard test.  Dust bunnies just love to party along my baseboards.  This test involved a piece of graphite from a pencil lying ½ inch from the baseboard on my relatively new carpet.  Pass after pass and that graphite didn’t budge.  I eventually had to use the easily detachable hose that travels on the vacuum to clean the perimeter of the bedroom.

Finally, came the hardwood floor test.  This was a first to me since I have never before vacuumed my hardwood floors for fear of scratching.  The Eureka Envirovac left my floor just like I found it.  Scratch free.  Although chunks of sand and pretzel bits were kicked back at my ankles.  Not the most comfortable of side effects.  Wearing boots may lessen the sting next time.

Eureka Envirovac promotes their one touch, bag-free, emptying system.  Easy and bagless.  True.  Yet, the weekly filter cleaning isn’t as easy and will probably take some practice to master without coating your floor with a new layer of dust.

Want to really green your cleaning of hard floors?  Think of grandma and use a dustpan and broom.  You will save electricity and maybe burn a few calories while you are at it.  As for carpets, I can’t give you a firm yes or no.  If it is electricity that you are looking to save, go for it and buy the new Eureak Envirovac.  If it is performance that you are looking for, keep looking.

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As you are demo’ing your house in preparation for your remodel, stop before you take that used refrigerator or freezer to the dump! There are organizations that will haul away your refrigerator or freezer, pay you a rebate, and then recycle it!

Southern California Edison (SCE) is one such organization. They will pay you to recycle your old refrigerator or freezer. You will receive a $50 check for that working refrigerator or freezer. And, by swapping your old appliances with new, energy-efficient ones or disposing of a spare unit, you can save up to $292 per year on your energy bill says SCE (savings based on 2006, assuming average use and conditions. Actual savings may vary according to SCE).

To be eligible, you must be an SCE customer. The appliance must be picked up at your SCE service address. The appliance must be in working condition at the time of pick up. The size of the appliance must be between 10-27 cubic feet.

Check your local utility for similar rebate and recycle programs for appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers!

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Today was the first day of “Tell The World You Received an ENERGY STAR Award Week”.  Newswires were buzzing with press releases from the big guns about the recognition they received from Department of Energy for their energy saving efforts in 2007.  Let’s break this down, and offer up an opinion on what it all really means… 

Each year, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. Award winners will be recognized at the ENERGY STAR Awards Ceremony on April 1, 2008 in Washington, DC.  

Winners are picked for categories such as New Homes, Energy Management, Service and Product Provider, Energy Efficiency Program Delivery, ENERGY STAR PROMOTION,  Efficient Affordable Housing, Excellence in Home Improvement, Retailer, and Product Manufacturer.   And No, you’re not the only one who doesn’t understand the categories.    Also, there are so many winners.  If you look at the 2007 ENERGY STAR winners there is hardly a category with only one winner.

This year it looks like there will be multiple winners per category again.  Announcements in the press today included:

• Pella – we covered their story in a separate article.
• Whirlpool- received a 3rd consecutive Sustained Excellence award for helping consumers reduce their utility bills and greehouse gas emissions.  Read the full Whirlpool news release.
• Lowes- was recognized in the Retail category.  (GetWithGreen would like to see Lowes make an effort to bring their eco-friendly story more visible.  The only fast way to find their story, is to look at the company site map!  How about it Lowes?   Will it be you, or Home Depot, that brings the green story out of the Footer of your site first?)
• GE Consumer & Industrial – also recognized for the 3rd year in a row, receiving a Sustained Excellence award.    Read the full GE new release.

How does all this help you during your remodel?  Digging deep for an answer on that, we do believe it gives the above companies a podium to highlight their most efficient products during the time of buzz.  For example, check out the Whirlpool release, or the GE news release link above and you will see mention of their greener appliances — all consolidated one page.  Very easy to find them in one shot!  

We’ll keep you posted on other announcements, and update this article as the week progresses!  Further, we will let you know what the EPA tells us about their process for selecting winners (we have a note out to them now!).

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On Friday, Maytag announced two new ENERGY STAR Washer & Dryers. Below is what Whirlpool (Maytag is now Whirlpool) has to say about these new laundy products, and their pricing…

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BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ — The legacy of Maytag(R) brand laundry continues with the new Maytag(R) EPIC z(TM) front-load washer and dryer. The versatile design of this space-saving, high-performance laundry system allows it to be installed virtually anywhere in the home.

Based on 100 years of dependable and proven innovations, the EPIC z laundry system features the quality and reliability expected from Maytag products. The front-load washer’s Rainfall Clean(TM) wash system offers exceptional cleaning performance to get clothes clean the first time, and its MaxExtract(TM) extended spin provides outstanding moisture removal.

The dryer’s GentleBreeze(TM) powerful drying system, combined with the washer’s water extraction, takes clothes from wet to dry in under 30 minutes.* The EPIC z units exceed basic ENERGY STAR(R) requirements and are some of the most energy efficient in the industry. According to recent Maytag brand research, the ENERGY STAR rating is the feature that most influences a laundry appliance purchase.**

“The EPIC z front-load washer and dryer provide solid, dependable features in a flexible design,” said Drew Fraser, vice president for North American laundry products. “They can be stacked, placed side-by-side, tucked under a countertop or set into a tighter-than-normal space. Yet, they still have enough capacity to handle a family’s laundry needs.”

Built Strong to Last

For over a quarter of a century, Maytag washers have lasted longer than any other leading brand.*** The new Maytag EPIC z laundry pair upholds this heritage by providing an array of dependable performance features and commercial-grade components.

The washer’s Rainfall Clean wash system has a three-baffle design that scoops up and showers water through 138 holes. This quick and thorough fabric saturation system gives detergent more time to work on stains and get clothes clean. In addition, the washer’s new NSF Certified Sanitary Cycle heats wash water up to 153 degrees Fahrenheit to remove at least 99.9 percent of test organisms. The washer’s space-saving dimensions are 36 in. (height) x 27 in. (width) x 30-1/2 in. (depth).

The Maytag EPIC z dryer includes two rear and two front premium drum rollers, part of the Smooth Balance(TM) Suspension System, that are permanently lubricated to help eliminate squeaks and noises for quiet operation and low vibration. The dryer offers an impressive 6.7 cu. ft. capacity with measurements for smaller spaces: 36 in. (height) x 27 in. (width) x 28-9/10 in. to 32-9/10 in. (depth).

Suggested retail prices are $799 to $949 for the washer, and $749 to $959 for the dryer. The Maytag EPIC z units are now available at home improvement stores and appliance retailers. Colors include Arctic Blue with Chrome, Black with Chrome, White with Chrome and White. For more information, visit www.maytag.com.

About Maytag Brand

For a century, Maytag brand appliances have been synonymous with dependability and durability. Through the commitment of Whirlpool Corporation, Maytag brand’s unequaled tradition of quality production and unrivaled performance continues to thrive. Exceptionally durable, commercial-grade components are found in all Maytag brand appliances – including the Maytag(R) Epic(R) front-load and the Maytag(R) Centennial(TM) top-load washers and dryers, the Maytag(R) Gemini(R) double-oven range, the Maytag(R) Ice2O(TM) French door bottom-freezer refrigerator, the first of its kind with external ice and water, and the Maytag(R) Jetclean(R) dishwashers. Maytag brand is part of the Whirlpool Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $18 billion, more than 73,000 employees, and more than 70 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. For more information on any Maytag brand appliance, visit http://www.maytag.com.

   *  Based on an average-size load.
   ** Source: Ipsos omnibus telephone survey of 1,000+ homeowners, September
       2007; 30 percent agreed that it was the most important.
   *** Based on the average age of replacement using independent research
       that processed numbers of surveys ranging from 6,000 to 35,000 and
       conducted 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 2002 and 2006.

Website: http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/
Website: http://www.maytag.com/

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When looking for new appliances (a refrigerator, water heater, clothes dryer, etc.), you can easily calculate how much energy one model will use over a competitive model.  Thus providing you with an answer of which will actually cost you more each day to use (and cost the environment).  This article provides you with the math equations to do it (note: you’ll need a copy of your electric bill):

Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use

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The National Geographic Green Guide delivers an article that compares Energy Star Refrigerators. It describes brands and models, and presents data on energy costs and CO2 emissions. Read on to see that fridge your considering is on the list: APPLIANCE: Cost and Energy Comparison

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Are you considering a Bosch APPLIANCE for your home remodel? Bosch has a handly little tool that lets you search and see if there is a REBATE for that APPLIANCE.

Check it out now at: Bosch Rebate Finder

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Yes, there are savings by going with Energy Star appliances, but just how much?  EPA estimates are quoted in this article:  APPLIANCES: TCPalm Lifestyle Publication

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