Energy Efficient Appliances

Many appliances look very similar outwardly but they can vary all together when it comes to energy saving and therefore operating expenditure.

Here you can find out all you need to know about electricity saving devices. Learn more about what energy electricity saving appliances are, how they work, the benefits of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Price Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing decreased energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing a standard light bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your roof so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but distinct from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by requiring a different result. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy efficient devices are created to give the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Reduced electricity usage result in lower utility bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many household appliances currently manufactured in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less energy than base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are in comparison to other similar household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy starting point when figuring out if an appliance is energy conserving or not.

Types of Low Energy Household Appliances

Some different types of energy efficient devices include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Low Energy Appliances work

Electricity efficient household appliances work by applying the latest techniques to ensure they use as little energy as possible. That might be superior insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Choose Energy Conserving Appliances

Choosing electricity saving devices makes sense for multiple reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less power it uses to undertake its task. Meaning you can see a big reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although more efficient appliances may have a more expensive initial cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our use of natural resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Energy Security. With fuel costs constantly increasing and natural resources constantly being used up choosing less energy intensive appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Energy Conserving Devices Actually Cost Less?

Low energy household appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and in turn your energy bills.

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a big difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and replacement devices, the amount they get used and the lifespan of the product.

The older the good you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy it requires to run the more significant the possible savings. I.e substituting an old, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your space, will make a noticeable difference whereas replacing your fridge with one that is just 10% more efficient will have a significantly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was built last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.

You also have to make sure you use your appliances efficiency settings to get the best reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When examining new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will make sure you make the best decision for you.

How Energy Efficient Devices Help the Environment

Energy efficiency isn’t only about cutting costs. Cutting energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have massive impacts on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the burning of non-renewable resources that can be correlated to air quality degradation and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily actions the market is replying with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR rating Devices?

The ENERGY STAR rating was started in 1992 to allow for an readily detectable way for people to choose more eco-friendly appliances.

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

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the star mark, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard design in their category.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a freezer that is 10% more efficient and one that uses 20% less energy would get the certification. Therefore although only looking at products with the star is a great first step, it is still worth checking the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Low energy devices really do make a impression at a local and national level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

If you are shopping for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of electricity an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to compare makes and models.

You might also want to check how much you spend on your energy so you can make accurate comparisons.

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

Having one full size fridge is more efficient than paying for two small ones. Unless you only need the spare one occasionally
When buying a new washing machine think about the load size as running a lower capacity machine two times will cost more than turning on a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the lowest energy boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s three times the size you require for your home.

Household appliances reduce in efficiency as they deteriorate so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.