Energy Efficient Appliances

Many appliances look very similar on the face of it but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy economy and consequently operating expenditure.

Here you can learn all you need to know about electricity saving household appliances. Discover what energy energy conserving devices are, how they operate, the benefits of choosing them and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Achieve Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is employing reduced energy to gain the same outcome. This could mean, replacing a traditional bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your roof so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which requires employing less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy efficient household appliances are made to offer the same results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Lower power usage result in lower utility bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less power than standard models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which display how economical they are in comparison to other comparable household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy first point of call when figuring out if a device is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Household Appliances

Some examples of energy conserving household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Low energy devices work by taking advantage of the most up to date technology to ensure they waste as little electric as they can. That might be superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Choose Energy Conserving Devices

Using low energy appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less power it needs to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can see a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although more efficient devices may have a more expensive ticket price they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your utility bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our exploitation of non-renewable resources also preserves them for future generations.
Energy Security. With fuel costs continually rising and natural resources constantly being used up choosing less energy intensive devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Low Energy Household Appliances Really Save Money?

Energy efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your energy usage and in turn your energy bills.

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

The older the appliance you are changing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the appliance uses to run the bigger the likely savings. I.e replacing an old, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your space, could make a notable difference whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is just 10% less energy intensive will have a much smaller impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was built last century you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the savings will be much less.

You also have to make certain you use your household appliances efficiency settings to get the most significant reductions. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

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

How Low Energy Devices Help the Planet

Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about reducing your bills. Cutting energy consumption also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have big effects on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the use of non-renewable resources that are likely to be responsible for air quality decline and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental cost of our daily actions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

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

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

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR certification vary between different appliances. In order to gain the star mark, household appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard design in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that is 10% more efficient and one that uses 22% less energy might get the certification. Therefore although looking out for the star is a good first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Saving Appliance Right for You?

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

Next time you are looking for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. It shows the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to contrast makes and models.

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

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one big fridge requires less energy than paying for two small ones. Unless you only need the second one occasionally
When purchasing a new washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a lower capacity machine twice is less efficient than using a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the best boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s four times the capacity you should be using for your home.

Devices use more energy as they deteriorate so replace over 10 years old first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that use the most energy.