Energy Efficient Appliances

Most devices look very similar externally but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy economy and therefore operating costs.

Here you can understand everything you need to know about electricity efficient appliances. Discover what energy low energy household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of making the switch and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Henry’s Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is using decreased energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing a standard light bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by changing the outcome. For example, opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just running the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy conserving appliances are made to offer the same outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Less energy requirements result in lower energy bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many devices available in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less power than standard models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which advertise how efficient they are in comparison to other equal capacity household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy starting point when determining if an appliance is electricity saving or not.

Types of Low Energy Appliances

Some examples of electricity efficient appliances include:

Fridges
Air Conditioners
Water Heaters
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Electricity Saving Devices work

Energy efficient household appliances work by taking advantage of the best current techniques to ensure they use as little electric as possible. That might mean more advanced insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Choose Low Energy Appliances

Choosing low energy appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Reducing energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less power it requires . Meaning you can see a noticeable saving in energy without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although more efficient appliances are likely to have a more expensive ticket price they will inevitably save you money in the long run by cutting your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our abuse of natural resources also conserves them for future generations.
Energy Security. With fuel costs continually rising and natural resources continually depleting choosing less energy intensive household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Energy Efficient Appliances Actually Cost Less?

Electricity efficient devices save you money by reducing your power usage and by association your utility bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you see a substantial fall in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and future appliances, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy it requires to run the greater the likely savings. I.e replacing an old, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the correct size for your space, could make a notable impact whereas uprating your fridge with one that is merely 10% more efficient will have a significantly smaller impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in the last 10 years the money you save will be much lower.

You also have to make certain you understand your household appliances energy saving settings to get the greatest reductions. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

When contrasting new household appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the ongoing costs will help you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Conserving Appliances Help the Planet

Reducing energy consumption isn’t only about saving you money. Cutting energy usage also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have irreversible impacts on the planet, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the use of oil and gas that have been correlated to air quality degradation and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is reacting with more eco-friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?

The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to allow for an easily understandable way for consumers to choose more efficient devices.

Certified products must meet both power efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to performance and attributes.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, household appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the standard design in their class.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are equal in terms of efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 15% less energy and one that is 18% more efficient might get the symbol. So although only looking at products with the star is a simple place to start, it is still worth checking the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Low energy devices really do make a impact on an individual and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.

If you are shopping for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. It tells you the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to decide between makes and models.

You’ll also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

Size makes a difference when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one large fridge requires less energy than paying for two little ones. Unless you only need the extra one during the holidays
When choosing a replacement washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine twice is less efficient than turning on a bigger machine once.
Even the lowest energy boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s two times the size you should be using for your home.

Appliances get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.