Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances look very similar on the face of it but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and as a result operating costs.

Here you will discover everything you need to know about low energy devices. Discover what energy electricity saving household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact All-Tech Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is using decreased energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by requiring a different result. For example, opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy efficient devices are engineered to give the same outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Lower power requirements result in lower electricity bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower efficiency models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which show how efficient they are when looked at next to other similar appliances.

These simple labels can be a great starting point when figuring out if a device is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Appliances

Some examples of electricity saving household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washers
Dishwashers

How Low Energy Household Appliances Work

Low energy household appliances work by taking advantage of the latest technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might be superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Benefits of Electricity Saving Devices

Switching to low energy household appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The more economical an appliance is the less resources it requires to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can see a sizable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient devices may have a bigger initial cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our wastefulness of fossil fuels also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Energy Security. With fuel prices continually rising and natural resources always being used up choosing less energy intensive devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Efficient Appliances Genuinely Cost Less?

Electricity saving appliances save you money by reducing your electricity usage and in turn your electricity bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you enjoy a noticeable reduction in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and replacement household appliances, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are changing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy it uses to run the greater the possible savings. I.e substituting an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your space, could make a marked impact whereas replacing your fridge with one that is just 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in within the last decade the financial rewards will be much lower.

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

When contrasting new household appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the running costs will ensure you make the best decision for you.

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances Help the Environment

Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about cutting costs. Reducing energy consumption also has an environmental impact.

Our actions have big effects on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the burning of oil and gas that appear to be responsible for air pollution and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily choices the market is replying with more environmentally friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to provide an quickly detectable way for buyers to choose more eco-friendly devices.

Rated products must meet both energy consumption and consumer expectations in regards to quality and features.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to gain the rating, appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base design in their grouping.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a washing machine that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy would get the certification. Therefore although only looking at products with the rating is a simple starting point, it is still worth looking into the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for Your Home?

Energy conserving household appliances really do make a difference at a local and international level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.

If you are shopping for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This indicates the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it simpler to decide between brands and models.

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

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

Running one full size fridge requires less energy than paying for two small ones. Unless you only use the spare one at certain times of the year
When buying a new washing machine think about the load size as running a space saving machine two times will cost more than turning on a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the best boiler will be unable to save you money if it’s two times the spec you require for your home.

Devices get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that use the most energy.