Energy Efficient Appliances

Most appliances appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy economy and as a result running expenditure.

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

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is making use of reduced energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient 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 related to but different from energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by requiring a different result. For example, choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient household appliances are engineered to give the same results in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Less energy usage result in lower utility bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less energy than base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how economical they are in comparison to other similar household appliances.

These simple labels can be a handy place to start when figuring out if a device is low energy or not.

Types of Low Energy Household Appliances

Some examples of energy conserving devices include:

Fridges
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances work

Energy conserving appliances work by taking advantage of the most up to date techniques to minimize electricity consumption. That might mean superior insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.

Benefits of Energy Conserving Devices

Using low energy devices makes sense for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less resources it uses . Meaning you can gain a big reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient household appliances may have a more expensive ticket price they will generally save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our use of natural resources also keeps them for future generations.
Fuel Security. With energy prices continually increasing and natural resources constantly depleting choosing more efficient household appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Saving Devices Genuinely Save Money?

Electricity saving household appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and therefore your energy bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you notice a substantial fall in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the appliance requires to run the bigger the likely savings. For example substituting an broken, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your home, could make a notable difference whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% more efficient will have a much smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in within the last decade the financial rewards will be much less.

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

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

How Low Energy Appliances Help the Planet

Reducing energy consumption isn’t just about saving you money. Reducing energy consumption also has an environmental impact.

Our actions have big impacts on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the consumption of oil and gas that appear to be correlated to air pollution and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily decisions the market is reacting with more energy efficient solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to provide an quickly understandable way for consumers to choose more sustainable household appliances.

Rated products must meet both power performance and consumer requirements in regards to performance and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to have the rating, devices are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard product in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that is 10% more efficient and one that is 20% more efficient might get the symbol. So although only looking at products with the star is a good starting point, it is still worth looking into the actual figures before making your final choice.

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

Low energy household appliances really do make a difference on an individual and international level, reducing your bills and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are shopping for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to decide between makes and styles.

You’ll also want to know how much you spend on your energy so you can make accurate comparisons.

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

Running one bigger fridge is more efficient than running two little ones. Unless you only use the second one occasionally
When purchasing a new washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a space saving machine two times uses more energy than using a higher capacity machine once.
Even the most efficient water heater will never save you money if it’s four times the capacity you should be using for your home.

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