Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of devices appear very comparable outwardly but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy economy and as a result operating costs.

Here you can find out everything you need to know about energy conserving devices. Discover what energy energy conserving household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of using them and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Elizabeth Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is employing lower energy to gain the same outcome. This could mean, replacing a filament bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but distinct from energy conservation which requires using 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 conserving appliances are made to offer equivalent results in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Reduced power usage result in lower utility bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less energy than base models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are in comparison to other similar household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy place to start when deciding if an appliance is energy conserving or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Devices

Some different types of electricity saving devices include:

Fridges
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washers
Dishwashers

How Low Energy Appliances work

Electricity efficient devices work by employing the latest techniques to maximize efficiency. That might look like more advanced insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to reduce drying time.

Benefits of Electricity Saving Devices

Choosing energy conserving appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Saving energy. The more economical a device is the less resources it needs . Meaning you can gain a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although more efficient appliances are likely to have a bigger up-front cost they will generally save you money in the long run by cutting your utility bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our abuse of fossil fuels also keeps them for future generations.
Fuel Security. With resource prices consistently going up and natural resources always depleting choosing less energy intensive household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Energy Efficient Household Appliances Genuinely Save Money?

Electricity saving devices save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and by association your utility bills.

How much you save and whether or not you see a substantial reduction in your household bills will depend on the difference between the existing and new devices, the amount they get used and the lifespan of the product.

The older the appliance you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the appliance uses to run the greater the potential savings. For example substituting an old, inefficient, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the perfect size for your home, will make a noticeable difference whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is just 10% more efficient will have a significantly smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you use your household appliances energy-efficient functions 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 examining new appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the usage costs will help you make the best choice for you.

How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Planet

Saving energy isn’t only about saving you money. Cutting energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have irreversible impacts on the planet, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the consumption of non-renewable resources that have been responsible for air quality decline and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily choices the market is responding with more environmentally friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR rating Devices?

The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to provide an easily understandable way for buyers to decide upon more eco-friendly devices.

Rated products must meet both power efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to performance and features.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to be awarded the ENERGY STAR, household appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base model in their class.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 10% less energy and one that is 22% more efficient might get the symbol. Therefore although making sure you see the star is a great starting point, it is still worth checking the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

Energy efficient household appliances really do make a impression at a local and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are looking for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to decide between brands and styles.

You might also want to check how much your energy costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Running one large fridge is more efficient than paying for two small ones. Unless you only need the spare one during the holidays
When choosing a new washing machine think about the load size as running a lower capacity machine multiple times is less efficient than using a higher capacity machine once.
Even the lowest energy water heater will never reduce your bills if it’s two times the spec you should be using for your home.

Devices use more energy as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.