Energy Efficient Appliances

Many household appliances look very similar on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy saving and as a result operating expenditure.

Here you can learn everything you need to know about low energy household appliances. Learn more about what energy energy conserving devices are, what makes them different, the benefits of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Select Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to give the same results. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by requiring a different result. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy conserving devices are created to offer the same outcomes using less energy allowing you to save money. Reduced electricity requirements result in lower utility bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances currently manufactured in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less energy than base models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other comparable appliances.

These ratings can be a good first point of call when deciding if an appliance is energy conserving or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Household Appliances

Some examples of electricity efficient appliances include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Boilers
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Electricity Saving Appliances work

Energy conserving appliances work by utilizing the best current technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might be superior insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to reduce drying time.

Advantages of Energy Conserving Goods

Choosing low energy household appliances makes sense for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more efficient an appliance is the less resources it requires . Meaning you can see a sizable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient appliances might have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our abuse of fossil fuels also keeps them for future generations.
Energy Security. With resource costs continually increasing and natural resources constantly being used up choosing energy-efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Really Cost Less?

Energy conserving devices save you money by reducing your energy usage and therefore your electricity bills.

How much you save and whether or not you see a noticeable reduction in your household bills will depend on the difference between the old and replacement devices, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the appliance you are changing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the device needs to run the more significant the possible savings. I.e replacing an worn out, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your space, will make a noticeable difference whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% more efficient will have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less significant.

You also have to make sure you make use of your devices efficiency settings to get the most significant reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When comparing new household appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the running costs will ensure you make the top choice for you.

How Electricity Saving Devices Help the Planet

Saving energy isn’t just about saving you money. Minimizing energy requirements 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 atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels that are likely to be responsible for air quality degradation and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily decisions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to ensure an readily detectable way for people to opt-for more eco-friendly appliances.

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

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, devices are required to be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the standard model in their category.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that uses 12% less energy and one that is 20% more efficient would get the rating. So although only looking at products with the rating is a great first step, it is still worth checking the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for You?

Electricity efficient household appliances really do make a impact at an individual and international level, saving you money over time and better use of energy and resources.

When you are shopping for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it simpler to compare makes and styles.

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

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

Having one bigger fridge requires less energy than running two smaller ones. Unless you only need the spare one occasionally
When purchasing a new washing machine consider the load size as running a space saving machine two times uses more energy than turning on a bigger machine once.
Even the most efficient water heater will be unable to save you money if it’s four times the size you should be using for your home.

Household appliances reduce in efficiency as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.