Built-in Appliances: Combining Thoughtful Design Innovation with Superior Energy Performance

Architects can specify built-in appliances with world-class design features that use less energy by incorporating the latest appropriate technology.
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Sponsored by Electrolux Home Products, INC.
Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED-AP

Of course, the cost of appliances is also addressed in the ENERGY STAR program. Fundamentally, it should be remembered that 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 simply comparing purchase prices with one another, the costs to operate the appliance over its useful life (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 and can create a quick payback for the small initial premium of a superior appliance. Consider that the EPA estimates that an average home spends about $2,200 on energy bills every year and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) observes that "Americans spend $43 billion annually to run household appliances, which is an average of $560 per year per family. If every household in the U.S replaced old appliances with efficient models, they'd collectively save at least $15 billion per year." The U.S. Department of Energy states that, "Based on our estimates, a typical family with a home more than a decade old could save $200 per year in electricity and water bills, and 18,600 gallons of water, by switching to highly energy- and water-efficient appliances. If every American household installed these products, the annual water savings would equal the average flow of the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico for five entire days." Therefore, changing to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR label is not so much an additional cost as it is a means to save money on energy and water costs. Hence, specifying energy-efficient appliances is good for the homeowner or renter who pays the energy bill, good for the atmosphere, and ultimately good for the environment.

With all of the above as a basis, specific types of appliances can be looked at in more detail in terms of addressing owner trends, energy and water efficiency, and specific design implications.

Image from public domain U.S. EPA www.energystar.gov

 

Cooking Appliances

Very often, cooking appliances make up a significant part of a kitchen design and layout. Choices abound in size, style, finish, function, and operation and owners will have a range of desires and needs working into the final decisions of selection. Although the ENERGY STAR program does not currently apply to cooking appliances, there are nonetheless several important things to keep in mind when specifying or selecting cooking appliances.

 

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Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in June 2011

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