Energy Efficient Appliances

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

In this article you can find out all you need to know about electricity efficient household appliances. Learn more about what energy low energy household appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of using them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Accel Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing a filament light bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is related to but not the same as energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving household appliances are created to provide equivalent outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Lower energy usage result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many household appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less power than lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are when looked at next to other equal capacity devices.

These simple labels can be a great starting point when deciding if a device is energy conserving or not.

Types of Low Energy Household Appliances

Some different types of electricity efficient household appliances include:

Fridges
Air Conditioners
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Electricity Saving Household Appliances work

Low energy household appliances work by utilizing the best current techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might be better insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.

Advantages of Low Energy Devices

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

Saving energy. The more economical a device is the less energy it needs . Meaning you can gain a sizable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient appliances may have a higher initial cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your utility bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Fuel Security. With energy prices constantly going up and natural resources constantly being used up choosing less energy intensive appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Energy Efficient Household Appliances Really Cost Less?

Electricity efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and in turn your energy bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a big reduction in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement household appliances, the amount they get used and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the device uses to run the bigger the potential savings. For example substituting an broken, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your space, could make a marked difference whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a significantly less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less significant.

You also have to make sure you use your household appliances energy saving settings to get the best savings. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

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

How Electricity Efficient Devices Help the Planet

Saving energy isn’t all about saving you money. Minimizing energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have massive impacts on the environment, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the consumption of non-renewable resources that have been linked to air pollution and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions the market is replying with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was created in 1992 to ensure an readily detectable way for people to decide upon more sustainable household appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to quality and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the rating, appliances must be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base product in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR rated products are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a fridge that is 15% more efficient and one that uses 22% less energy could get the rating. So although making sure you see the star is a good starting point, it is still worth checking the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

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

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

Next time you are looking for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This shows the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it simpler to contrast brands and models.

You’ll also want to make a note of how much your energy costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

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

Paying for one big fridge requires less energy than running two smaller ones. Unless you only need the second one at certain times of the year
When buying a new washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a lower capacity machine multiple times will cost more than using a higher capacity machine once.
Even the lowest energy boiler will not save you money if it’s two times the size you need for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they age so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the ones that use the most energy.