Energy Efficient Appliances

Many devices look very similar on the face of it but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy saving and as a result running costs.

In this article you will understand all you need to know about energy conserving household appliances. Discover what energy low energy household 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 Warwick Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of less energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your home so you need less heating.

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

Energy efficient devices are designed to provide the same outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Lower power requirements result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices available in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less energy than standard models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are in comparison to other similar appliances.

These ratings can be a great place to start when figuring out if an appliance is low energy or not.

Types of Low Energy Devices

Some different types of low energy appliances include:

Fridges
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Low Energy Devices work

Low energy devices work by taking advantage of the latest techniques to minimize electricity consumption. That might be better insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.

Benefits of Low Energy Goods

Switching to electricity saving appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Saving energy. The more efficient an appliance is the less power it needs . Meaning you can see a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient devices may have a more expensive up-front cost they will usually save you money over time by cutting your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our abuse of natural resources also conserves them for future generations.
Fuel Security. With fuel prices constantly increasing and natural resources continually being used up choosing less energy intensive devices will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Electricity Saving Household Appliances Genuinely Reduce Bills?

Low energy household appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and therefore your utility bills.

How much you save and whether or not you see a noticeable reduction in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and future household appliances, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are upgrading is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy it requires to run the greater the potential savings. I.e substituting an old, inefficient, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your home, could make a marked difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly less noticeable impact.

Research suggests 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 less.

You also have to ensure you make use of your appliances energy-efficient functions to get the greatest savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

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

How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t only about reducing your bills. Minimizing energy requirements also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the burning of non-renewable resources that appear to be responsible for air quality degradation and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is replying with more eco-friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR Marked Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to allow for an readily detectable way for buyers to opt-for more efficient household appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both power efficiency and consumer expectations in regards to quality and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, devices must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a fridge that is 12% more efficient and one that is 18% more efficient would get the certification. So although looking out for the symbol is a great place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Low Energy Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Electricity saving appliances really do make a impression on an individual and national level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are shopping for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it easier to contrast brands and styles.

You might also want to make a note of how much your electricity costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Having one full size fridge requires less energy than having two small ones. Unless you only use the spare one occasionally
When buying a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine twice will cost more than using a higher capacity machine once.
Even the best water heater will be unable to save you money if it’s two times the capacity you should be using for your home.

Household appliances get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.