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Considerations

• Decide whether you really need the appliance in the first place.
• Is there a better or alternative approach to using a particular product?
• When purchasing look at the energy efficiency and its cost of ownership.
  • Initial purchase cost may hide the longer term costs of a products operation - you generally get what you pay for!
  • Cheap products may cost a lot in operation.
  • Expensive products may cost a lot less in operation and this be a better long-term proposition.
• When you purchase an appliance ask the supplier whether the product can be recycled.
• Are there alternative products made from more environmentally friendly materials?
• Does the supplier have a recycling scheme for your old appliance?

REDUCE

Reduce energy consumption and ownership of inefficient appliances

Switch to using better, more efficient technologies. Energy efficiency in appliances continues to improve but there is still a long way to go. Replacing older products with newer generation versions can achieve significant energy savings. Washing machines, fridges and freezers and typical of products that have achieved energy efficiencies through improved design and construction.

REUSE AND RECYCLE

Choose products that are easier to reuse and recycle

Some products are designed with ease of maintenance and dismantling so that their components can be readily reused or recycled. These would potentially have a lower energy burden associated with their recycling.