Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of appliances appear very comparable outwardly but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy efficiency and consequently running costs.

In this article you will discover all you need to know about energy conserving household appliances. Learn more about what energy low energy appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages 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 Giles Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which requires employing less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. Eg opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only running the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity saving household appliances are made to give the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Reduced energy usage result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most devices display EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are when looked at next to other similar appliances.

These simple labels can be a handy starting point when determining if a device is electricity saving or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Devices

Some examples of energy conserving household appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances work

Energy conserving devices work by employing 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 limit drying time.

Reasons to Choose Electricity Saving Goods

Switching to low energy appliances makes sense for a number of reasons:

Reducing energy. The less energy intensive an appliance is the less energy it requires to complete its purpose. Meaning you can experience a big reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient household appliances are likely to have a more expensive initial cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the power we need for our daily lives comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our wastefulness of natural resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With fuel prices continually rising and natural resources always being used up choosing less energy intensive household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Electricity Efficient Appliances Really Reduce Bills?

Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your energy usage and in turn your utility bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you notice a substantial fall in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and new household appliances, the amount they get used and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy the appliance requires to run the greater the likely savings. I.e substituting an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your home, could make a noticeable difference whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in within the last decade the savings will be much less.

You also have to ensure you use your appliances energy saving functions to get the most significant savings. 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 running costs will make sure you make the prime decision for you.

How Low Energy Household Appliances Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t just about cutting costs. Cutting energy consumption also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have irreversible effects on the planet, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the burning of oil and gas that appear to be linked to air quality degradation and global warming.

As we become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily choices the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?

The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to allow for an quickly recognizable way for buyers to opt-for more sustainable devices.

Rated products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to performance and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark change according to the device being tested. In order to be awarded the rating, devices must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base design in their grouping.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a freezer that is 10% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient could get the rating. Thus although looking out for the rating is a great starting point, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Electricity saving devices really do make a impact at an individual and national level, reducing your bills and conserving both energy and resources.

If you are in the market for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This indicates the amount of energy an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to contrast brands and designs.

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

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one big fridge requires less energy than having two small ones. Unless you only use the spare one occasionally
When buying a replacement washing machine think about the load size as running a lower capacity machine multiple times uses more energy than running a bigger machine once.
Even the most efficient water heater will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s four times the size you should be using for your home.

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