Harvey Norman makes going green easy with an array of mindfully curated, energy-efficient home appliances to fill your home and save you money in the process.
THE consequences are dire as global warming is causing the gradual heating of the Earth's surface, oceans and atmosphere, with the world’s temperature rising 0.08° Celsius per decade since 1880 but the rate has doubled to 0.18° C per decade since 1981.
With the rising temperatures comes the increasing risk of droughts and floods, which is affecting the way we live and in turn impacting our health. What’s more alarming, research has found that households through their consumption behaviour contribute to a high percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Therefore, it is important for us to practise ways to minimise our carbon footprint. Here are a few things we can do to as individuals to live more sustainably:
> Reduce, reuse and recycle (3R): We all know the importance of 3R. So instead of tossing out unwanted items we could always donate them to charity or even join Buy Nothing groups on Facebook which encourage people to donate their items without expecting anything in return. Don’t forget to separate your recyclable materials i.e. plastic, paper, glass and aluminium or repurpose an old pair of jeans to breathe new life into your old items.
> E-waste disposal: Sometimes you can’t repurpose your old items no matter how much you try, especially when it comes to your electronics. It is also important to dispose of your e-waste properly otherwise it may have a serious impact on the environment and our health. Be sure to separate your e-waste from your domestic waste and only send it to registered collectors.
ALSO READ: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: the three Rs of digital waste.
> Food composting: Household behaviour has a surprising impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is important to not only dispose of products but also our food properly. One way is to invest in a composting bin or even repurpose your food scraps into scrumptious soups or stock for later use.
> Energy-saving items: Not only can energy-efficient appliances protect the environment, they can help lower your utility bills too. Opt for energy efficient LED light bulbs and also learn how to read the Energy Star label on appliances which promotes energy savings and helps you decide which big ticket appliance will best fit in your household.
Established by the Energy Commission, the stars on the label indicate the efficiency of the appliance, as it uses less electricity to achieve the same level of performance of similar models with the same size or capacity.
Also important to note on the label is the average energy consumption (kWH) in a year, which gives you an idea of how much you will be saving, as compared to other appliances in the market. Read more here.
Water-saving appliances: A lesser known counterpart to energy-saving items is the water efficient appliances. The Malaysian national average domestic water consumption for an individual is 209 liters per day, which is higher than the set national target of 180 liters.
Therefore, the Water-Efficient Product Labelling Scheme (WEPLS) initiated by National Water Service Commission (SPAN) was set up tp help locals save water by using water appliances.
You can lookout for the WEPLS label for star rating indicating its water efficiency, WEPLS registration number as well as product information such as brand, model and water consumption. Read more here.
Greener home with Harvey Norman
Harvey Norman has taken the guesswork out for you by offering an array of home appliances that could help you on your journey to save the planet with its eco-friendly household items such as water and energy-saving washers, fridges, TV and air conditioners.
Therefore, when shopping for home appliances such as fridges and washers, select a model of suitable capacity that meets your household needs.
Better yet, look out for the HN Green Finds tags whereby you can easily identify water or energy-saving, eco-friendly products in-store and online. There are also in-store posters in-store to help you shop for the right Green products.
> LG two-door fridge (GN-C702SGGC): LG's inverter linear compressor has revolutionised the core of the refrigerator, providing up to 32% in energy savings, top-rate durability and optimal temperature control to keep foods fresher longer.
ALSO READ: Tips for saving electricity through the wash, the dishes and the fridge
> Toshiba SDD Inverter washer with nano wash: Toshiba’s S-DD Inverter Motor 48 new magnet named Neodymium is more powerful and energy-saving and produces low noise, high accuracy, powerful and rapid rotation, as well as consumes less energy consumption.
Meanwhile, when looking for the best air-conditioners for you and your family, look out for eco-friendly features, such as the inverter technology that powers up quickly and maintains at a desired temperature without wasting energy, as well as the smart app that enables you to control your air-conditioner from wherever you are.
> Samsung WindFree premium plus air-conditioner: You can save money daily with Samsung’s patented and highly energy-efficient technology WindFree Cooling. When you have the WindFree mode turned on, it consumes minimal power from the outdoor unit touted to use up to 77% less electricity compared to the fast cooling mode*. With one of these in your home, you can stay comfortably cool without worrying too much about your electricity bill.
No modern home is complete without the TV. Therefore, it is important to pick a suitable TV screen size that meets your needs. Generally, the larger the screen size, the more energy it consumes.
> Samsung QLED TV QA75QN85BA-Neo: Samsung is making strides in improving its sustainability and reducing its environmental and carbon footprint, like introducing energy efficient designs and ensuring that every Samsung QLED 4K and 8K TV will come with a solar cell remote control, developed to reduce waste. Read more here.
Besides that, you can go the extra mile by unplugging your TV to trim your electricity bill as merely switching off the device may still encourage a small flow of electricity.
ALSO READ: Unplug devices to save power.
Speak to Harvey Norman’s product experts in-store or chat with them online for more information on how you can lead a greener lifestyle with the retailer. Visit a Harvey Norman store near you or shop online at www.harveynorman.com.my today. Alternatively, follow them on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
*Read more here.
