A guide on how to make your appliances more eco-friendly

Many people already recycle their cans, plastics and cardboard, but there are other small ways in which you can help, such as investing in more environmentally friendly appliances. Eco-friendly features are usually already built in with newer appliances, however, they can sometimes be costly. It isn’t realistic to expect people to replace all of their old appliances with brand new ones, but there are still many other ways to reduce your carbon emissions and create a more energy efficient home or workplace.

To help you transform your old appliances and make them more eco-friendly is HVAC experts, Daikin.

Boiler
Ideally, experts recommend that you should replace your boiler every 15 years, but your old boiler can still be eco-friendly with just a few small changes. Turning down the thermostat by just a couple of degrees and turning it off at night will make a huge difference to your energy use. Studies have shown that allowing your body to cool down by a few degrees at night actually helps you get a better sleep and turning the heating down very slightly during the day won’t make a noticeable difference.

Next time you reach for the thermostat, consider putting on an extra layer, this is usually enough to keep you warmed up! Additionally, turning your thermostat down by just 1% can save you up to 10% on your household energy bills.

Fridge
Fridges tend to have a product lifespan of around 10 to 20 years, but if your fridge is due for a replacement, it’s definitely wise to invest in an eco-friendly model.

But let’s keep the focus on your current model – when was the last time you cleaned the coils on your fridge? Architectural Digest suggests that cleaning the coils of your fridge encourages more efficient energy use.

You can usually find your fridge’s coils on the top, bottom or back of the appliance. Before you begin, make sure that you’ve turned the fridge off and removed the base grill if the coils are on the top or bottom. Alternatively, carefully pull your fridge out from the wall so that you have access to the coils at the back. A refrigerator coil brush will allow you to brush off any dirt that has accumulated around the coils. Be sure to take care when moving the fridge, and if it’s heavy, ask someone to help you move it.

TV & Electronics
We’re all guilty of occasionally leaving the TV on standby at night or when we go out. We also often charge our phones all night when they don’t really need that long. If you’re hoping to lessen your carbon footprint and lower your bills in the process, make sure you switch your devices off at the wall before going to bed. The Energy Saving Trust notes that the average household in the UK spends £30 each year just on appliances left on standby. Spending an extra £30 on something that you aren’t using isn’t great, and worse, it’s not healthy for the environment.

So, the next time you do your night time check around the house that all of your doors and windows are locked, be sure to check your devices and plugs to ensure they’ve been switched off properly.

Tumble dryer
Tumble dryer filters are actually meant to be cleaned after each use, but everyone has forgotten once or twice.

Clean out any lint from the filter, then pour a small amount of water on the filter screen to see if the water passes through it. If the water pools on top of the filter, it means that you need to clean it. Clean out your filter using warm, soapy water, then rise off and try pouring the water through once more. If the water still pools at the top, repeat the wash with soap and water.

Washing machine
You can easily make your washing machine more environmentally friendly by turning down the temperature of your wash. Washing your clothes on a cold wash setting will provide many other benefits alongside helping the planet, including:

• More vibrant colours
• Better stain removal (warm water actually keeps the stain in!)
• Saving money on your household bills
• Protect elastics

Dishwasher
If you want to save energy, it’s best to wait for a full load of dishes before starting your dishwasher. Additionally, you should ensure that the dishes are placed efficiently inside to wash as many as possible at once without compromising on cleaning. Tree Hugger has advised that you turn off the drying cycle (if your dishwasher has one) and let the dishes air dry. You can open the door, leaving them to dry off overnight.

Air conditioning
A good air-conditioning system can provide effective relief over the summer months. But, like all appliances, you’ll need to look after it in order to prevent overuse of energy and ensure that it works effectively.

Greener Ideal recommends getting a professional out to check that your air conditioning unit is running properly. your system is making any strange noises, it’s best to call in a professional.

There are a number of ways to make your old appliances more eco-friendly. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your home and workspace are as green as possible. When you do need to replace your older appliances, be sure to keep energy efficient models in mind. For example, if you have an old, noisy air conditioning system, you may want to focus on choosing a quieter model. But don’t forget to check if it’s eco-friendly! With a good quality air-conditioning system from a trusted supplier such as Daikin, you can have a quieter system without compromising on energy efficiency.

Article courtesy of Daikin.