Energy Efficient Appliances

Many household appliances appear very similar externally but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result operating expenditure.

In this article you can discover all you need to know about electricity saving devices. Learn more about what energy low energy appliances are, how they work, the benefits of making the switch and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Wright Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing decreased energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is similar to but different from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. For example, opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy efficient appliances are engineered to offer equivalent results in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Lower energy requirements result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices available in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how economical they are when looked at next to other comparable devices.

These simple labels can be a handy first point of call when determining if an appliance is electricity efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Household Appliances

Some examples of electricity saving household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Electricity Saving Household Appliances work

Low energy appliances work by employing the most up to date techniques to make sure they waste as little electric as they can. That might mean superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Low Energy Appliances

Using energy conserving appliances is a good idea for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The more efficient an appliance is the less power it requires to complete its task. Meaning you can see a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although lower energy household appliances might have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money in the long run by cutting your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our abuse of fossil fuels also preserves them for future generations.
Energy Security. With fuel prices continually going up and natural resources constantly depleting choosing more efficient household appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Energy Efficient Devices Actually Reduce Bills?

Low energy household appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and therefore your utility bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you see a substantial difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and new appliances, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy the appliance needs to run the more significant the likely savings. I.e replacing an worn out, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your home, will make a notable difference whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is only 10% less energy intensive will have a much less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in within the last decade the money you save will be much lower.

You also have to make sure you make use of your devices efficiency settings to get the most significant reductions. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When contrasting new devices factoring in both the purchase price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the top choice for you.

How Low Energy Household Appliances Help the Environment

Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about cutting costs. Minimizing energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have irreversible impacts on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the consumption of non-renewable resources that have been linked to air pollution and global warming.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily choices the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Devices?

The ENERGY STAR rating was formed in 1992 to provide an readily understandable way for buyers to decide upon more efficient household appliances.

Certified products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer needs in regards to quality and attributes.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the star mark, devices are required to be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base model in their grouping.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that uses 10% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy might get the rating. Thus although looking out for the star is a great place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Saving Appliance Right for Your Home?

Energy efficient household appliances really do make a impact at an individual and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.

When you are in the market for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the amount of energy an appliance uses and makes it easier to contrast makes and models.

You’ll also want to know how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.

Size matters when it comes to home appliances. For example:

Paying for one large fridge requires less energy than having two smaller ones. Unless you only use the second one during the holidays
When purchasing a new washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a space saving machine multiple times uses more energy than turning on a bigger machine once.
Even the most efficient water heater will not reduce your bills if it’s three times the capacity you require for your home.

Devices get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that use the most energy.