The benefits of ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances

What color should we paint the kitchen? Where will the sofa look best? Planning a new home is an exciting experience full of many questions and choices.

One question that may get lost in the excitement is, "How much will it cost to run this home?"

Energy efficiency is a financial as well as an environmental concern these days, and planning for energy efficiency must take place before construction begins.

"The decision to build an energy-efficient home starts in the earliest stage of design conception," said Amy Bryan, Jackson EMC residential marketing director. "You have to make that happen prior to construction, not at the end when you move in."

Jackson EMC Right Choice homes are designed from the ground to the roof with both energy and cost savings in mind. All Right Choice homes are equipped with properly sized energy-efficient heat pumps, the best choice for heating and cooling in Georgia's climate.

"The floor plan with all final modifications is sent to a mechanical engineer to determine the size HVAC equipment for the different levels or zones within the home, and airflow needs for each individual room. The engineering firm uses a nationally accepted standard for both size and airflow needs," Bryan said.

Heating and cooling represent almost half of a homes' energy consumption and collectively U.S. home heating and cooling systems emit over a half-billion tons of CO2 each year. Right Choice homebuilders work closely with expert energy technicians to ensure that all Right Choice Homes are properly sealed and insulated to minimize energy loss due to air leaks. This careful construction also reduces CO2 emissions and indoor pollution, creating a healthier environment both inside and out.

In addition to using less energy, Right Choice homes qualify for Jackson EMC's Energy Advantage rate that shaves an average of five percent off the electric bill. All Right Choice homes come with a three-year guarantee that the cost of heating and cooling the home will stay below a specified amount and a one-year guarantee that rooms in the home will stay within three degrees of the thermostat setting.

"No other program in the country guarantees performance like Jackson EMC Right Choice does," Bryan said. "Homebuyer warranties ensure that performance and low monthly bills are achieved is out of the field of expertise of most energy professionals."

For More Savings, Choose ENERGY STAR

Choosing ENERGY STAR®-qualified appliances is another important decision in the home in the home planning process. Refrigerators and freezers can account for up to 15 percent of a home's energy consumption; clothes washing and drying, cooking, and small appliances account for 18 percent; and lighting for six percent. ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances are designed to use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than appliances that do not qualify for the ENERGY STAR seal, and to be more environmentally friendly. Energy Star qualified appliances may cost more for the initial purchase, but the energy and water savings add up over the life of the product.

ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators use 15% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than conventional models sold in 2001. They can save up to $53 in energy costs per year.

ENERGY STAR-qualified freezers use 10% less energy than required by current federal standards and can save up to $10 in energy costs per year.

ENERGY STAR-qualified dishwashers use at least 41% less energy than required by federal standards, much less water than conventional models, and can save up to $51 in energy costs per year.

ENERGY STAR-qualified clothes washers use 50% less energy than conventional washers, much less water, and can save up to $550 in operating costs over the life of the appliance.

ENERGY STAR-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy, generate 70% less heat, and last up to 10 times longer than standard light bulbs, saving up to $30 in energy costs over the life of a single bulb.