Green home, green vacuum

In the quest for a green home many people have begun switching out many appliances for more energy efficient ones. Yet when you are looking to outfit yourself with a more eco-friendly vacuum there are a few key things outside of simply the amount of energy the model uses in order to then make the best decision. Once you have been able to weigh all the factors you can then go in armed with the information you need to make the best choice for the environmentally conscious consumer you are.

When it comes to a green home vacuum cleaner there are four things you want to take into account: life span, energy consumption, bags or bagless, and then battery power. The first one is rather self explanatory in that if you purchase a cheaper vacuum it may only last you a couple of years before it needs to be replaced and thus generates wasted resources. Instead if you were to invest in a higher quality vacuum you would not only be saving money long term but you would be eliminating the multiple crummy models you would have had to get rid of throughout the years. You can find good vacuums that will last around 30 years where others may poop out in as little as two.

Most people are becoming more aware of their energy consumption, and for a green home they are aiming to cut back on that. So in keeping that in mind you want to find a vacuum cleaner that is going to do its job but not use an overabundance of power. A misconception is that in order for it to work it must have a high ampage motor; the assumption is that the more amps the more power, but the truth is that it comes down to the size of the tubing and fans in the vacuum. You could then have a vacuum cleaner with a big fan and tubing and a motor with only 7amps that is better able to do its job than a 12amp motor with a small fan; yet the latter is going to be sucking more energy.

Coming to the bag dilemma; it may seem that a bagless vacuum is the way to go as it isn't going to waste those bags. Yet on the flip side the filters of bagless cleaners are going to get dirty and need to be replaced annually. When you think about the fact that the average house will use about 4 bags a year that is going to mean less of an impact in terms of waste than the filter change. However, that can be counteracted as long as the bagless unit has a filter that is washable. And finally, while it may be tempting to go for one of those battery operated models, the truth is that they wind up dying and need replacement rather quickly. That then creates a waste and even if you return them the manufacturer, they generally trash the old battery, put in a new one, and then resell it. Not good in terms of recycling.

So then when it comes to specific units you may want to consider for your green home, there are a few that will get your house clean and still be eco-friendly. Rainbow Vacuum is a good pick because it does not have a bag and its filter is washable. It is high quality, going to last a long time, and in terms of energy consumption it is efficient. There are also Kirby Vacuums and while they do have a bag (later models have bigger ones which will mean less used annually) they run off of a 7amp motor and are one of the best in terms of longevity. Finally, there is Hyla Vacuum with a washable filter and they have shown to be comparable to Rainbow. Hopefully now you can go in armed and ready to get a vacuum that boasts a darker shade of green.

Photo credit: Bilderknut