ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES

Did you know that March 3- 9 this year, is National Consumer Protection Week?  

National Consumer Protection Week is a campaign to encourage and educate consumers nationwide of their consumer rights and how to make better-informed decisions in their purchases.  This includes, making sure YOU as a consumer, can make your home as energy efficient as possible, which can help save on your utility bill. 

According to the ENERGY STAR website, appliances account for nearly 20 PERCENT of the average household’s energy use.  One way that consumers can make their home more energy-efficient, is by purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances. So how do you know if an appliance is ENERGY STAR certified, and what exactly does that mean? 

Appliances with the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy-efficiency criteria established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  ENERGY STAR appliances are identified by a blue label.  The ENERGY STAR Logo is found on all qualified products that meet specific standards for energy-efficiency.  ENERGY STAR appliances are designed to help you save energy by operating more efficiently than standard models. 

According to the US Department of Energy’s Guide to Kitchen Appliances, compared to standard models, ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use 20 percent less energy, and ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use 10 percent less energy and 18 percent less water. 

While looking for the ENERGY STAR logo, you might also see a yellow Energy Guide label.   Manufactures are required to place this label on all appliances.  It provides information about the appliance’s energy consumption when compared to similar models. These numbers are usually averages, and actual costs will differ depending on how you use your appliance.

An Energy Guide label has five parts. The first part is the identity of the appliance.  The maker, model number, and size of the appliance can be found in the top right corner.  The second part, is the estimated yearly operating costs and range of operating costs for similar models.  Again, this is based on a national average. The estimated yearly consumption can be found right underneath, in the middle lower section.

In the top left corner, are the key features of the appliance and similar models that make up the cost comparison range. And lastly, if your appliance qualifies, in the bottom right corner you can find the ENERGY STAR logo, indicating that this is a qualified product and meets the strict requirements for energy efficiency.

Here in Tallahassee, the City of Tallahassee is doubling its existing rebates on certain ENERGY STAR appliances purchased locally.  This incentive applies to qualifying purchases between February 14 and April 30.  Check with your local utility provider to see if you qualify for any rebates or special offers.

While it still helps to unplug your appliances when not using them, and to be conscious of your energy usage, especially during peak hours, making the switch to smart appliances can also play a major role in helping you save on your utility bill. 

For more information on energy conservation and to learn how you can save on your utility bill, visit: http://www.floridapsc.com/consumers/tips/.

.

Portable generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed, but they also can be hazardous. The primary hazards to avoid when using a generator are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust, electric shock or electrocution, and fire.

Every year, people die in incidents related to portable generator use. Most of the incidents associated with portable generators reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) involve CO poisoning from generators used indoors or in partially-enclosed spaces.

Carbon Monoxide Hazards

NEVER use a generator in enclosed or partially-enclosed spaces. Generators can produce high levels of CO very quickly. When you use a portable generator, remember that you cannot smell or see CO. Even if you can't smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO.

If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. DO NOT DELAY. The CO from generators can rapidly lead to a person's full incapacitation and death.

If you experience serious symptoms, get medical attention immediately. Inform medical staff that CO poisoning is suspected. If you experienced symptoms while indoors, have someone call the fire department to determine when it is safe to re-enter the building.

Follow these safety tips to protect against CO poisoning:

• NEVER use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, and other enclosed or partially-enclosed areas, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO build-up in the home.
• Follow the instructions that come with your generator. Locate the unit outdoors and away from doors, windows, and vents that could allow CO to come indoors.
• Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the manufacturer's installation instructions. The CO alarms should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards for CO alarms (UL 2034, IAS 6-96, or CSA 6.19.01).
• Test your CO alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.

Electrical Hazards

Follow these tips to protect against shock and electrocution:

• Keep the generator dry and do not use in rain or wet conditions. To protect from moisture, operate it on a dry surface under an open, canopy-like structure. Dry your hands if wet before touching the generator.
• Plug appliances directly into the generator. Or, use a heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads. Check that the entire cord is free of cuts or tears and that the plug has all three prongs, especially a grounding pin.
• NEVER try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as "backfeeding." This is an extremely dangerous practice that presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection devices.
• If you must connect the generator to the house wiring to power appliances, have a qualified electrician install the appropriate equipment in accordance with local electrical codes. Or, check with your utility company to see if it can install an appropriate power transfer switch.
• For power outages, permanently installed stationary generators are better suited for providing backup power to the home. Even a properly connected portable generator can become overloaded. This may result in overheating or stressing the generator components, possibly leading to a generator failure.

Fire Hazards

Follow these tips to prevent fires:

• Never store fuel for your generator in the home. Gasoline, propane, kerosene, and other flammable liquids should be stored outside of living areas in properly-labeled, non-glass safety containers. Do not store them near a fuel-burning appliance, such as a natural gas water heater in a garage. If the fuel is spilled or the container is not sealed properly, invisible vapors from the fuel can travel along the ground and can be ignited by the appliance's pilot light or by arcs from electric switches in the appliance.
• Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.

Did you know that most of us use more water outdoors than indoors during the year? And many of us are wasting our money because we overwater our lawns.

 The spring sunshine is signaling lawns to stir out of their winter slumber. Now is the time to set up a lawn watering program, so the grass is luscious while you conserve costly and precious water.

 Watering efficiently wets only the turf grass root zones without saturating the soil or letting water run off.  Water no more than two times a week and even less if it has rained. Your lawn only needs an inch or less of water a week.

 In addition, your community may have watering restrictions to preserve drinking water for indoor use, so make the most out of your watering time.