Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and therefore operating costs.

In this article you will find out everything you need to know about low energy appliances. Discover what energy electricity efficient household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of choosing them and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact First Rate Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is employing lower energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient household appliances are engineered to give equivalent results in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Lower power requirements result in lower utility bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances currently manufactured in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how economical they are in comparison to other equal capacity devices.

These ratings can be a handy place to start when deciding if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Household Appliances

Some different types of electricity saving appliances include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Boilers
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Energy conserving household appliances work by utilizing the latest techniques to maximize efficiency. That might look like better insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.

Benefits of Low Energy Appliances

Switching to energy efficient devices is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Reducing energy. The more economical a device is the less power it requires . Meaning you can see a big saving in energy without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although lower energy appliances may have a higher ticket price they will usually save you money over time by reducing your utility bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our abuse of fossil fuels also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With fuel prices consistently rising and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Electricity Saving Household Appliances Genuinely Cost Less?

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

The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a noticeable reduction in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and new appliances, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the device uses to run the more significant the likely savings. For example replacing an broken, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your home, could make a noticeable difference whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was made last century you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in within the last decade the savings will be much lower.

You also have to make certain you make use of your appliances efficiency settings to get the most significant 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 ticket price and the running costs will ensure you make the prime decision for you.

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances Help the Planet

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

Human actions have irreversible impacts on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the burning of fossil fuels that can be linked to air pollution and climate change.

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

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to provide an readily detectable way for people to choose more sustainable appliances.

Rated products must meet both power consumption 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 be awarded the ENERGY STAR, devices are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard product in their grouping.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are equal in terms of efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 10% less energy and one that is 18% more efficient might get the symbol. So although looking out for the rating is a simple place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Saving Appliance Right for Your Home?

Low energy devices really do make a impression at an individual and international level, reducing your bills and conserving both energy and resources.

If you are in the market for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it simpler to contrast makes and models.

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

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

Paying for one large fridge is more efficient than paying for two little ones. Unless you only use the second one during the holidays
When choosing a replacement washing machine think about the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine multiple times will cost more than using a bigger machine once.
Even the lowest energy boiler will never save you money if it’s four times the size you require for your home.

Devices use more energy as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the items that use the most energy.