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In recent years, the efficiency of refrigerators has increased substantially. Manufacturers have:

• Improved compressors and motors
• Introduced better door seals and compartmentation
• Increased insulation standards

Even though there have been improvements, most fridges and freezers still operate a long way short of the maximum potential efficiency. Average running costs could be cut by half without serious difficulties, as we can see when we realise that the most efficient existing appliances are 50% more effi¬cient than the average. Although a refrigerator uses a relatively small amount of power in use, it is the fact that it is working 24 hours a day 365 days a year, often in the hottest room of the house, that causes it to be one of the highest energy users.

Choosing a new energy-saving triage or freezer:
• Unless you use a large amount of frozen food it makes the most sense to buy a combined fridge-freezer model. The most efficient place for the freezer compartment is at the top so that it can facilitate cooling below.
• If you do buy a separate freezer, then buy a well-insulated chest type which loses far less cold air when opened than an upright.
• Work out carefully the optimum size you need. Both fridges and freezers operate best when at least three-quarters full.
• Automatic defrost models consume far more energy than the manual defrost models. This is because they contain heaters. The fridge is thus working against itself when defrosting and if the fridge is being used inefficiently the energy used can be increased by a further 50%.
• Find a fridge that is well insulated and look for energy efficiency labels.

Energy saving in use
• Energy saving microelectronics have been developed for refrigerators: they help to match the real load on the motor and save up to 20% of energy. These electronics have been incorporated into a special plug called a saverplug which is well worth installing.
• Locate a refrigerator or freezer away from sources of heat such as a stove or direct sunlight. If you have a fridge that is not well insulated you can provide some extra insu¬lation yourself on the top and sides.
• Check the temperature inside the main refriger¬ator compartment and freezer. They should be between 3° to 5°C and -18°to-15°C respectively. If the temperature is outside these ranges then energy is being wasted and the temperature control needs to be adjusted. Fridge and freezer thermometers are well worth buying and placing in your fridge for the occasional check.
• The back of a fridge is a notoriously difficult place to clean. However the coils or fins tend to become sticky and dusty—this acts as an insulant forcing the motor to work harder and waste more energy. Clean with soap and water.
• If you have a manual or partial automatic defrost facility then defrost regularly.
• Test the door seal and check that it is tight. This is equivalent to draught-proofing your fridge. If there is an air leak it can not only lose energy unnecessarily but will require more frequent defrosting.
• Dispose of your fridge where the CFCs can be salvaged. Enquire at your local council to find out where you can take it.

Energy saving is very important. For this, you should have knowledge about how to choose an energy-efficient appliance. Cooker is the necessity of every home. You should know how to choose an energy saving cooker.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/energy-saving-tips-refrigerating-and-freezing-1781859.html

If you are building a new home, tankless hot water heaters are energy efficient and provide more hot water than traditional heaters which require a tank. In a regular heaters, the water sits in a holding tank and is heated whether you are using hot water or not. This is necessary so that when you do need warm water, it's ready for you. In a tankless heater there is no storage tank and water is heated as rapidly as you need it. It only heats water as it is being used around the house. A Powerstar tankless heater saves energy because they only come on when you need them.

A second advantage of a tankless hot water heater is that you never run out of boiling water. Water heaters which use a tank are usually limited to between 40 gallons and 100 gallons of hot water. The larger the tank the more energy it takes to keep the water at such a high temperature. With smaller tanks you can run out of steamy water in the middle of your shower. With tankless hot water heaters, you never run out of this high temperature water. Powerstar tankless heaters are designed to meet your demand as you need it.

If you have ever had the experience of running out of hot water in the middle of your shower, you are aware of one of the drawbacks of tank style heaters. It takes between 20 and 45 minutes for the heater to heat everything in the tank. If you use all the hot liquid in the tank, you have to wait for the system to recover and heat additional water. The larger the tank, the less often you will run out of hot water. Larger tanks take more energy to keep the liquid hot and therefore add to your energy usage and your electric bill. Water heaters that heat their contents continuously, like the powerstar tankless heater, only use power when you use hot water.

The powerstar tankless heater doesn't use a tank, but heats the water as it enters the house. Tankless heaters provide a steady, continuous source of hot water. The amount of hot water produced depends on the capabilities of the system. Powerstar tankless heaters produce more than two gallons of hot water per minute. Installing a tankless water heater will save homeowners money on an appliance that accounts for a significant percentage of the total energy used in their home.

It doesn't matter if you are building a new home or remodeling your current home. A tankless heater adds value to your home. The energy savings can add up quickly. The convenience of having as much warm water as you need when you need it is great. No more waiting for the water to get hot when everyone in the house decides to take a shower at once. You'll have the same degree of water whether you are the first one or the last one to take a shower. A Powerstar tankless heater adds value to any home and in an energy conscious society, they make a great selling point.

Looking for the right hot water heater for your home? Picking the wrong tankless system can cause chaos in your life. But there is hope! Our PowerStar tankless heater guide will give you everything you need to know to avoid the those common mistakes.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/save-energy-with-a-powerstar-tankless-heater-1775722.html