Specifying Residential Appliances: Green Update

Energy-saving appliances reduce water use and enhance sustainability
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Peter J. Arsenault, AIA, NCARB, LEED-AP

Recyclable Content:If a residential project involves remodeling and selective demolition of existing appliances, full consideration should be given to recycling those appliances. Currently, discarded appliances are second only to old automobiles as a source of recycled metals, particularly steel. Using recycled steel has a positive impact on the environment, since it takes four times as much energy to manufacture steel from ore as it does to make the same steel from recycled scrap. While steel is the most abundant recyclable component in appliances, other recyclables include metals like aluminum and copper, as well as plastics and the safe recycling or disposal of Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants. When specifying new appliances, architects should consider whether they are fully recyclable at the end of their useful lives. Some manufacturers indicate that up to 99 percent of their product can be fully recycled, becoming the raw material for the next generation of products and preserving other environmental resources in the process.

Appliance recycling has become so significant that, since 1993, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has facilitated the Appliance Recycling Information Center (ARIC). The mission of this center is "to serve as the authoritative source of information on the environmentally responsible disposal and recycling of appliances and to undertake research into the recycling of major household appliances." According to their web site (www.aham.org/aric), ARIC focuses its activities on "industry coordination and information and education." ARIC has initiated joint meetings of representatives from the major appliance industry, the steel recycling industry, plastics council, and scrap recycling companies. In September 1994, the Major Appliance Resource Management Alliance (MARMA) was founded to expand on the ARIC mission of increasing the recycling rate of major home appliances. Additionally, ARIC develops and makes available the most accurate technical data about appliance disposal and recycling, including advances in appliance recycling technology.

AHAM is also a co-sponsor with the Steel Recycling Institute of the Recycling Information Center. If owners or contractors have questions on recycling, they can call 1-800-YES-1-CAN to reach recorded messages and ask questions of live operators.

Cost Implications

Every appliance has two price tags: a purchasing price and an operating cost. That's not counting the environmental and health costs of burning coal and other fossil fuels in power plants. Instead of comparing purchase prices with one another, the costs to operate the appliance over its useful life (usually 10 to 18 years) should be considered. Most, but not necessarily all, appliances designed for increased efficiency carry slightly higher initial purchase costs. However, the long-term savings are significant. For example, total water usage alone in efficient appliances might be reduced by one third, saving $95 or more in a year, based on 2005 costs. Energy savings can be even more dramatic and create a quick payback for the small initial premium of a superior appliance.

Specification Guidelines for Appliances

Based on the significance of appliances in green buildings, the following guidelines are suggested when preparing specifications for residential appliances.

Refrigerators

Refrigerators are often the largest single energy-using appliance in a typical household and, consequently, are the most carbon dioxide-emitting appliances. A typical energy bill reflects almost as much energy use for a refrigerator (six percent) as lighting the entire house (seven percent). A new, more efficient refrigerator can typically save $70 to $80 per year, and will pay for itself in about nine years. The good news is that new energy efficiency standards for refrigerators went into effect in July 2001, requiring models to use 30 percent less energy than previous 1993 standards. Specifying a model that qualifies for the EPA's ENERGY STAR® label will save the user even more. On January 1, 2004, the ENERGY STAR® criteria for refrigerators changed, requiring that all refrigerators greater than 7.75 cubic feet must be at least 15 percent more efficient than the federal minimum standard.

When specifying energy-efficient refrigerators, Green Guide and Greenbuilder.com recommend the following:

  • Specify an ENERGY STAR® rated, or better, refrigerator or freezer. Note that there are some models that just meet the requirements, and some that far exceed them. It is possible to specify more than just minimum ENERGY STAR® (i.e. 15 percent above federal standards) requirements and accept only models that exceed requirements (20 percent or greater than federal standards).
  • Top freezer models are generally more efficient than side-by-side models. Side-by-side refrigerator/freezers are not only less energy efficient (particularly if they include water or ice dispensers), but also are more likely to need repair. RMI determined that these models use seven to 13 percent more energy than similar top freezer models.
  • Manual defrost models use half the energy of automatic defrost models, but must be defrosted periodically to remain energy-efficient.
  • Automatic icemakers and through-the-door dispensers will increase energy use by 14 to 20 percent. Given that these features also add to the sticker price, consumers would be better off using ice trays and skipping such models altogether, to conserve energy.
  • The most energy-efficient models are the 16 to 20 cubic foot sizes.
  • It is usually less costly to run one larger refrigerator rather than two smaller ones. Avoid the temptation to plan for separate units running in different locations. It's much more economical and ecological to ensure a single model is properly sized to meet user needs.

 

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Originally published in Architectural Record.
Originally published in December 2005

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