The majority of appliances appear very similar on the face of it but they can vary completely when it comes to energy saving and as a result operating expenditure.
Here you can understand all you need to know about electricity efficient appliances. Discover what energy low energy household appliances are, how they work, 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 Perry Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?
In simple terms energy efficiency is employing decreased energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. For example, opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.
Energy conserving devices are designed to offer equivalent outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Reduced energy requirements result in lower utility bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Many household appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are compared to other similar household appliances.
These ratings can be a handy first point of call when determining if a device is energy conserving or not.
Types of Energy Conserving Household Appliances
Some examples of electricity efficient household appliances include:
- Fridge-Freezers
- Air Purifiers
- Boilers
- Washers
- Tumble Dryers
How Electricity Efficient Devices work
Energy efficient appliances work by employing the best current technology to make sure they use as little electric as they can. That might mean better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.
Advantages of Energy Conserving Goods
Using electricity efficient devices makes sense for a number of reasons:
- Reducing energy. The less energy intensive an appliance is the less power it requires . Meaning you can see a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
- Saving money. Although energy-efficient household appliances are likely to have a more expensive ticket price they will generally save you money in the long run by cutting your electricity bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the power we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our use of natural resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Resource Security. With fuel costs continually going up and natural resources constantly being used up choosing energy-efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.
Do Energy Conserving Devices Really Cost Less?
Electricity saving appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and by association your utility bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial difference in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and new household appliances, the amount they get used and the lifespan of the product.
The older the device you are upgrading is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy it needs to run the greater the likely savings. For example substituting an worn out, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the correct size for your home, could make a marked difference whereas uprating your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive will have a much smaller impact.
Research suggests that if your fridge was produced in the 1990’s you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the savings will be much less.
You also have to make sure you understand your household appliances energy saving settings 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 contrasting new appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the best choice for you.
How Energy Efficient Appliances Help the Environment
Energy efficiency isn’t all about reducing your bills. Reducing energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.
Our actions have irreversible impacts on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the consumption of non-renewable resources that can be correlated to air pollution and global warming.
As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions the market is reacting with more energy efficient solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.
What are ENERGY STAR rating Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to ensure an quickly detectable way for buyers to opt-for more eco-friendly devices.
Rated products must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to quality and features.
The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, appliances are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard design in their class.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that uses 10% less energy and one that is 22% more efficient would get the symbol. So although making sure you see the rating is a good place to start, it is still worth checking the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.
Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for You?
Electricity efficient appliances really do make a difference at an individual and national level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.
If you are looking for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it easier to decide between makes and styles.
You’ll also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.
Size matters when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Running one large fridge requires less energy than running two little ones. Unless you only use the extra one during the holidays
- When buying a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a space saving machine twice will cost more than running a higher capacity machine once.
- Even the lowest energy boiler will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s two times the size you require for your home.
Appliances use more energy as they deteriorate so replace older items first and if you have the funds available, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.