Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of devices look very comparable from the outside but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and consequently running expenditure.

In this article you will learn everything you need to know about electricity saving appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity efficient devices are, what makes them different, the benefits of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Rose Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing less energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which involves employing less energy by changing the outcome. 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.

Energy efficient appliances are created to give the same results using less energy allowing you to save money. Reduced power usage result in lower energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many household appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which advertise how economical they are in comparison to other comparable devices.

These ratings can be a good first point of call when deciding if a device is electricity saving or not.

Types of Low Energy Household Appliances

Some different types of energy conserving household appliances include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Air Conditioners
  • Boilers
  • Washers
  • Tumble Dryers

How Electricity Saving Devices work

Energy conserving devices work by employing the latest techniques to maximize efficiency. That might mean more advanced insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.

Benefits of Energy Efficient Devices

Switching to low energy household appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less power it needs to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can see a sizable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
  2. Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient appliances might have a bigger up-front cost they will generally save you money in the long run by reducing your utility bills.
  3. Environmental benefits. Most of the power we need for our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our use of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future generations.
  4. Resource Security. With resource costs constantly increasing and natural resources continually being used up choosing less energy intensive devices is a more sustainable option.

Do Energy Efficient Devices Actually Reduce Bills?

Electricity saving appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and by association your electricity bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and future appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy it needs to run the more significant the likely savings. For example replacing an broken, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the perfect size for your space, will make a noticeable impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is just 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was built in the last 10 years the savings will be much lower.

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

When contrasting new household appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will make sure you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances Help the Planet

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

Human actions have irreversible impacts on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the burning of fossil fuels that are likely to be linked to air quality degradation and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR Rating Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was created in 1992 to allow for an easily understandable way for consumers to decide upon more eco-friendly household appliances.

Rated appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to quality and attributes.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to have the rating, appliances must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard product in their grouping.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a washing machine that is 10% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient could get the rating. So although only looking at products with the star is a great place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

Is an Low Energy Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Low energy devices really do make a impact at a local and national level, reducing your bills and better use of energy and resources.

When you are shopping for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to decide between brands and styles.

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

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

  • Paying for one full size fridge requires less energy than running two smaller ones. Unless you only use the extra one at certain times of the year
  • When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a space saving machine two times is less efficient than using a bigger machine for a single run.
  • Even the lowest energy water heater will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s four times the spec you should be using for your home.

Appliances reduce in efficiency as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you are able to, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.

Additional Types of Appliances

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