Energy Efficient Appliances

Most appliances appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and consequently operating costs.

Here you can understand everything you need to know about low energy household appliances. Discover what energy low energy 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 Owens Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is making use of less energy to give the same results. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which requires using less energy by changing the outcome. Eg choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy conserving household appliances are made to provide the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Less power usage result in lower energy bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less electricity than standard models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other equal capacity devices.

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

Types of Electricity Efficient Household Appliances

Some examples of electricity efficient appliances include:

  • Fridges
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Water Heaters
  • Washers
  • Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Energy efficient appliances work by employing the most up to date techniques to minimize electricity consumption. That might look like superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Efficient Devices

Choosing energy conserving appliances makes sense for many reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The less energy intensive an appliance is the less resources it requires . Meaning you can see a sizable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
  2. Saving money. Although lower energy appliances may have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money in the long run by cutting your utility bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our wastefulness of natural resources also conserves them for future generations.
  4. Energy Security. With fuel prices constantly going up and natural resources constantly being used up choosing energy-efficient appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Low Energy Appliances Genuinely Save Money?

Electricity saving household appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and in turn your electricity bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a big fall in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the previous and replacement devices, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are changing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy it needs to run the more significant the possible savings. I.e substituting an broken, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the correct size for your home, will make a notable impact whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is merely 10% more efficient will have a markedly smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in within the last decade the money you save will be much less.

You also have to ensure you understand your devices energy-efficient functions to get the most significant savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When examining new devices factoring in both the purchase price and the running costs will help you make the best decision for you.

How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Help the Environment

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

Human actions have irreversible impacts on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the consumption of oil and gas that can be correlated to air pollution and climate change.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily choices the market is responding with more eco-friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was formed in 1992 to ensure an readily understandable way for buyers to opt-for more efficient devices.

Rated appliances must meet both power efficiency and consumer expectations in regards to quality and features.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to have the rating, appliances are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base design in their class.

However, not all ENERGY STAR marked products are equal in terms of efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy could get the certification. Therefore although making sure you see the rating is a good place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Saving Appliance Right for You?

Energy conserving devices really do make a impact at an individual and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.

When you are looking for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This label tells you the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to decide between makes and styles.

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

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

  • Paying for one full size fridge is more efficient than having two little ones. Unless you only turn on the second one occasionally
  • When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a space saving machine twice is less efficient than running a higher capacity machine once.
  • Even the best boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s three times the capacity you require for your home.

Devices use more energy as they deteriorate so replace older items first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.

Additional Types of Appliances