Energy Efficient Appliances

Many household appliances appear very similar from the outside but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and consequently operating costs.

In this article you can learn everything you need to know about electricity saving devices. Discover what energy energy conserving appliances are, how they operate, 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 A&L Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of decreased energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing a standard bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which involves employing less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy efficient appliances are made to offer equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save money. Less energy usage result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are when looked at next to other similar household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy place to start when determining if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Devices

Some examples of energy conserving household appliances include:

Fridges
Air Conditioners
Boilers
Washers
Dishwashers

How Energy Efficient Devices work

Electricity saving household appliances work by employing the best current technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might be superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Efficient Goods

Switching to electricity efficient devices is a good idea for multiple reasons:

Reducing energy. The more efficient a device is the less power it requires . Meaning you can see a big saving in energy without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient devices might have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money over time by cutting your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we need for our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our use of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future generations.
Fuel Security. With fuel costs continually rising and natural resources constantly being used up choosing more efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Low Energy Household Appliances Really Save Money?

Electricity saving devices save you money by reducing your power consumption and therefore your electricity bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you notice a big difference in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and new household appliances, the amount they get used and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy it needs to run the greater the likely savings. For example replacing an worn out, inefficient, oversized air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the correct size for your space, will make a noticeable impact whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% more efficient is likely to have a significantly less noticeable impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.

You also have to ensure you understand your appliances efficiency functions to get the greatest savings. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

When comparing new appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the usage costs will make sure you make the prime choice for you.

How Low Energy Appliances Help the Environment

Reducing energy consumption isn’t just about saving you money. Reducing energy usage also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have big effects on the planet, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the burning of oil and gas that can be linked to air quality degradation and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily decisions the market is responding with more eco-friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to allow for an quickly recognizable way for consumers to opt-for more eco-friendly devices.

Rated appliances must meet both energy performance and consumer expectations in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard model in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy might get the symbol. Therefore although looking out for the symbol is a simple place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before making your final choice.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

Electricity efficient appliances really do make a difference at a local and international level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

Next time you are shopping for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This label tells you the amount of energy an appliance uses and makes it easier to decide between makes and designs.

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

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one bigger fridge requires less energy than having two little ones. Unless you only turn on the extra one occasionally
When purchasing a new washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a space saving machine twice uses more energy than turning on a higher capacity machine for a single run.
Even the lowest energy boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s four times the capacity you need for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they age so replace older items first and if you are able to, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.