The efficiencies of gas in maior appliances

f NCnfeStNG numbers of AmeriI can appliance buyers are becoming aware of the need for energy management in the home because of current energy shortages and rising utility bills.

In the past, much emphasis has been placed on reducing home energy consumption by turning down thermostats, using less hot water, keeping pots covered on the range and so forth.

But of equal importance to the consumer is the selection of efficient home energy systems.

Knowing which systems save energy and dollars can be a helpful sales tool for the major appliance merchandiser.

Overall, using natural gas appliances for the major household energy duties of space heating, cooking, water heating and clothes drying can mean substantial savings for the typical family.

Separate and independent studies conducted by Rand Corp., Oak Ridge National l,aboratories. Council on Environmental Quality and the American Gas Association (AGA) have concluded that natural gas appliances save both energJi and money over their electric counterparts.

According to the four studies, electric space heating and water heating uses 2.25 times more energy than gas space and water heating. Electric cooking uses 1.6 times as much energy as its natural gas companion and three times as much energy is consumed when electricity is used instead of natural gas for drying clothes.

These same comparisons become even more dramatic when the economic impact of energy use is explored. Using national average cost figures for both gas and electric residential service, gas cooking, for instance, costs the average homeowner about $15 annually, while electric cooking costs the family nearly $44 per year. When natural gas is used for clothes drying, it costs the average household $4.88 a yeal with electricity, the cost is over $28 annually. Gas water heating annual cost is about $3 1, while electric water heating costs the homeowner $127 per year.

Story at a Glance

lf you're into major appliance merchandising, make sure you are aware of the major savings in money and energy available in natural gas appliances recommending the right products for your customers can mean valuable repeat business in the long run.

And gas space heating's yearly cost to the typical family is $93 as compared to electric heating's $363 yearly cost to the homeowner.

Other developments promise further savings. For example, the recent passage of a'bill by the California Senate assures savings to homeowners in the future by requiring gas appliance manufacturers to develop and place on the market by 1979 systems that eliminate the familiar pilot light on most appliances. Many industry insiders feel other Western states will follow California's example in the coming years.

One major gas appliance manufacturer has already launched a campaign for its "pilotless ignition" system on new model gas ranges and ovens. The company states that its system saves 30 percent of the gas consumed in the total cooking process. This savings has a direct impact on the homeowner, of course, in reduced gas bills.

For additional energy saving tips and comparisons, contact your local natural gas utility.