Energy Efficient Appliances

Many devices appear very similar outwardly but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy economy and consequently running expenditure.

In this article you can discover everything you need to know about energy efficient devices. Discover what energy electricity saving devices 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 Evans Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is employing lower energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing a traditional bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but distinct from energy conservation which requires using less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. For example, choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or just using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity saving devices are designed to give the same outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity requirements result in lower utility bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many household appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are when looked at next to other equal capacity household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy place to start when figuring out if an appliance is electricity efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Household Appliances

Some different types of energy conserving household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Electricity Saving Appliances work

Electricity saving devices work by employing the latest techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might look like superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Choose Electricity Saving Appliances

Using low energy appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Saving energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less resources it uses to undertake its task. Meaning you can gain a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although lower energy household appliances might have a bigger ticket price they will generally save you money over time by cutting your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our wastefulness of fossil fuels also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With energy prices continually going up and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient household appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Energy Conserving Household Appliances Really Cost Less?

Electricity saving household appliances save you money by reducing your electricity usage and by association your electricity bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a noticeable fall in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and future household appliances, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy it requires to run the bigger the likely savings. I.e replacing an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your home, will make a noticeable impact whereas uprating your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a much smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was made last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the savings will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you use your household appliances energy-efficient functions to get the greatest reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When examining new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the top decision for you.

How Low Energy Household Appliances Help the Environment

Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about saving you money. Reducing energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have big effects on the planet, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the consumption of non-renewable resources that have been correlated to air pollution and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR rating Devices?

The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to allow for an readily detectable way for consumers to choose more eco-friendly household appliances.

Rated appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer requirements in regards to fulfillment and features.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the star mark, devices must be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the standard design in their category.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are equal in terms of efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 20% less energy might get the certification. Thus although looking out for the rating is a simple first step, it is still worth looking into the actual energy usage before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Electricity efficient devices really do make a impact at an individual and global level, reducing your bills and better use of energy and resources.

If you are shopping for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it easier to contrast brands and models.

You may also want to check how much you spend on your energy so you can make accurate comparisons.

Size makes a difference when it comes to home appliances. For example:

Having one full size fridge requires less energy than paying for two smaller ones. Unless you only need the second one at certain times of the year
When choosing a replacement washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine twice is less efficient than using a bigger machine once.
Even the lowest energy water heater will not save you money if it’s two times the spec you need for your home.

Devices get less efficient as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you have the funds available, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.