Appliances with ecological sensibilities
Home » Good Guide » Energy Star appliances » Energy Star appliances » ElectroluxElectrolux: Swedish style and sustainability
Electrolux decided a long time ago that taking care of the environment could be a stylish affair.
“Long before the inconvenient truth of Kyoto, Electrolux recognised the importance of stewardship and sustainability,” says John Henley, director of Electrolux New Zealand. “In many ways respect for the environment is in Electrolux’s genetic code.”
Fridges are traditionally among the largest energy users in the home, but most Electrolux Eco-Range fridges have five- and six-star energy efficiency ratings.
Water and energy represent 72 percent of the environmental impact generated throughout an appliance’s entire lifecycle. With a percentage that high, it’s no wonder reducing energy consumption is a key objective in product development at Electrolux. Sometimes that means finding ways to make existing technologies more energy efficient, or introducing different technologies entirely, such as induction cooking for hobs and heat pumps for clothes dryers.
And sometimes it means launching an eco-specific range of appliances, so that you know exactly where to look for your next fridge or washing machine. That’s why Electrolux created its Eco-Range, a selection of energy- and water-efficient products designed with the environment in mind.
Electrolux has found itself in a unique position: its entire current range of refrigerators has been awarded the Energy Star mark for energy excellence. Fridges are traditionally among the largest energy users in the home, but most Electrolux Eco-Range fridges have five- and six-star energy efficiency ratings. Its refrigerators, freezers and fridge-freezers also use a non-synthetic refrigerant with lower global warming potential.
It turns out you can even teach Electrolux fridges a thing or two. Using what is termed ‘adaptive defrost technology’, your fridge automatically learns your usage patterns and
auto-defrosts to suit you.
Perhaps most impressive is the Electrolux heat-pump clothes dryer. Using clever heat pump technology, Electrolux has created a dryer with a 5.5-star energy rating—a feat that hangs many of its competitors out to dry.
Of course, sustainability is more than putting an energy-efficient washing machine in your home (even one from Electrolux, whose frontloading washing machines have all reached the Energy Star pinnacle). Before it was packed with your dirty laundry, your washing machine began its life in a factory—so it’s good to know that Electrolux has taken all stages of product development into consideration, making sure the company’s operations, from factory emissions to product performance, are as sustainable as possible.
It’s been recognised for its efforts by the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which includes the top 10 percent economic, environmental and social performers of the world’s 2,500 largest companies.
Electrolux understands that energy efficiency isn’t just about creating an appliance that uses less energy; it’s also about educating consumers on how to use them. That’s why there’s a special section on its website full of handy tips and advice on how to save energy and water, so you can protect your wallet as well as our environment.
