Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances appear very similar from the outside but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy saving and therefore operating expenditure.

In this article you can understand everything you need to know about electricity efficient household appliances. Learn more about what energy low energy household appliances are, how they work, the advantages of using them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Sims Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of less energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing an incandescent 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 different from energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or only using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Low energy appliances are engineered to provide the same results using less energy allowing you to save money. Less power requirements result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many devices for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are in comparison to other similar devices.

These simple labels can be a great starting point when determining if an appliance is low energy or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Household Appliances

Some examples of electricity efficient appliances include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Water Heaters
  • Washers
  • Dishwashers

How Energy Efficient Devices work

Electricity saving devices work by taking advantage of the best current technology to maximize efficiency. That might mean superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.

Benefits of Low Energy Devices

Switching to low energy appliances makes sense for many reasons:

  1. Saving energy. The more economical an appliance is the less energy it needs to complete its purpose. Meaning you can see a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
  2. Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient household appliances may have a bigger initial cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by cutting your electricity bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the power we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our exploitation of fossil fuels also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
  4. Fuel Security. With fuel costs continually increasing and natural resources always depleting choosing energy-efficient devices is a more sustainable option.

Do Electricity Saving Household Appliances Really Reduce Bills?

Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your electricity usage and by association your energy bills.

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a big fall in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement household appliances, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy it uses to run the bigger the potential savings. I.e substituting an broken, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your space, could make a marked difference whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is only 10% more efficient will have a much less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in the last 10 years the savings will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you understand your devices efficiency functions to get the most significant reductions. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

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

How Electricity Saving Devices Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t only about reducing your bills. Reducing energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have massive impacts on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the consumption of oil and gas that are likely to be correlated to air pollution and global warming.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was started in 1992 to provide an readily understandable way for buyers to choose more sustainable appliances.

Rated appliances must meet both energy efficiency and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to have the star mark, household appliances must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard product in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR certified appliances are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that is 10% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient could get the rating. So although making sure you see the star is a simple place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

Energy conserving devices really do make a difference at a local and national level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

If you are in the market for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to contrast brands and styles.

You may also want to make a note of how much your electricity costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:

  • Paying for one bigger fridge is more efficient than running two small ones. Unless you only turn on the second one during the holidays
  • When purchasing 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 running a bigger machine for a single run.
  • Even the most efficient water heater will not reduce your bills if it’s four times the size you require for your home.

Appliances get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the items that use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances