Energy Efficient Appliances
All appliances in Gordon Hall are Energy Star rated. Energy Star is a federal program that rates appliances and other products (www.energystar.gov). Appliances that are more energy-efficient than the current regulation requires can receive an “Energy Star” rating. Typically those appliances are 10-35% more efficient than the average new model on the market.
Energy Star appliances are rated by size and class. For example, large refrigerators are compared to other large refrigerators. It is important to keep that in mind when shopping for new appliances. To maximize energy savings, always choose the smallest Energy Star rated appliance that fits your needs, since small appliances usually use less energy than large ones.
In Sophia Hall you will find the following Energy Star rated appliances:
Most of the energy used for washing clothes is consumed for heating the water. A typical top-loading washer uses about 40 gallons of water as compared to only 20 to 25 gallons in a front-loader.
Front-loading
washing machines use:
40 to 60% less water
30 to 50% less energy
50 to 70% less detergent
than top-loaders!
The gentle tumbling action of a front-loader is easier on clothes than the twisting action they receive in a top-loader. The typical top-loader machine spins at about 600 rpm (revolutions per minute). Many front-loading machines spin faster -1000 rpm to 1600 rpm. This forces more water out of the washing. Therefore, front loaders reduce drying time considerably because they spin much faster. In Europe, more than 90% of washing machines are front-loaders, compared with less than 5% in the U.S.
The Medford campus has 125 washing machines that are used mostly by students in their residence halls. On average, each washer is used about 700 times a year. Over 100 of them are front loaders. (more: www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/WashingMachines.html) All 3 washing machines in Sophia Gordon Hall are front loaders.
Energy
Star qualified dishwashers use 25% less energy than the federal minimum
standard for energy consumption.Energy Star qualified dishwashers also
use much less water than conventional models. Because they use less hot
water compared to new conventional models, an Energy Star qualified dishwasher
saves about $100 over its lifetime.
(Taken from: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=dishwash.pr_dishwashers)
In Sophia Hall you will find the Energy Star rated GE Energy Star GLD4200LWW/CC/BB Dishwasher
Energy Star qualified refrigerator models use at least 15% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.
Energy
Star qualified refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved
insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve
energy efficiency.
(Taken from: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=refrig.pr_refrigerators)