Greener Machines Saving People Money
When people are cooking at home, one would think that all you are paying for is the groceries to make the home-cooked meal. But, have you ever thought about how it actually costs to run your microwave or favorite espresso machine? Maryland-based firm Savenia Labs shows that some household technology cost more money to operate than other appliances.
The lab tested many common kitchen appliances from coffee makers to blenders based off of market research. The labs simply asked people, “What do you use to make food in your kitchen?” From there, the lab went and bought a whole bunch of appliances and tested it up to and past the code of the federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency. Savenia tests the machines for insulation, corrosion, and how much electricity is needed for the machine to run, among other things.
Courtesy of: SaveniaLabs.com
After the machines are tested, they are labeled with a sticker that notes the appliance’s carbon footprint, which measures the amount of carbon dioxide that the machine requires to run for its lifetime. The data for each product is also different because of the different power sources that are used to control items in various parts of the country. This testing goes along with the EPA’s testing for energy cost (the amount of energy used) over time, and how much a person’s financial cost will be to run the product.
When going out to buy a kitchen product, Savenia Labs suggests combining the actual cost of the appliance with its lifetime energy cost to determine whether to buy the product. Also, consumers can use more green technology from solar hot water heaters to wind-powered electricity. The lab also suggests that when going out to buy an appliance to think green, not in color, but in saving energy.