Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of devices appear very similar on the face of it but they can vary completely when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result operating expenditure.

In this article you can discover all you need to know about electricity saving household appliances. Learn more about what energy low energy household appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of paying that little bit extra and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact ASAP Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is employing lower energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing a traditional bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your roof so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by requiring a different result. For example, opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient appliances are created to provide equivalent outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Reduced energy usage result in lower energy bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many household appliances available in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are when looked at next to other similar devices.

These simple labels can be a great place to start when figuring out if an appliance is energy efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Household Appliances

Some examples of low energy devices include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Devices work

Electricity saving household appliances work by utilizing the best current techniques to ensure they waste as little power as they can. That might look like better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Electricity Efficient Goods

Using electricity efficient household appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less power it uses . Meaning you can see a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although lower energy household appliances might have a bigger initial cost they will generally save you money over time by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our exploitation of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Energy Security. With fuel prices constantly rising and natural resources always depleting choosing energy-efficient appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Low Energy Devices Really Save Money?

Energy efficient devices save you money by reducing your power usage and by association your utility bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you see a substantial reduction in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and future appliances, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the device requires to run the bigger the likely savings. For example substituting an old, wasteful, too big air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your space, will make a noticeable difference whereas uprating your fridge with one that is only 10% more efficient will have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was produced in the 1990’s you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to make sure you understand your household appliances energy-efficient functions to get the greatest savings. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

When examining new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the top choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances Help the Planet

Saving energy isn’t just about saving you money. Minimizing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have massive impacts on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the burning of non-renewable resources that have been linked to air quality degradation and global warming.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is responding with more energy efficient solutions to our requirements. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was started in 1992 to provide an readily detectable way for buyers to decide upon more efficient devices.

Certified appliances must meet both power performance and consumer expectations in regards to fulfillment and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark change according to the device being tested. In order to have the star mark, household appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the standard model in their category.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated products are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that uses 12% less energy and one that is 22% more efficient would get the rating. Thus although making sure you see the star is a good place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before making your final choice.

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

Energy efficient devices really do make a difference on an individual and national level, reducing your bills and better use of energy and resources.

Next time you are in the market for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label tells you the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to contrast makes and styles.

You might also want to check how much your energy costs you so you can make better comparisons.

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

Running one full size fridge is more efficient than having two smaller ones. Unless you only use the spare one during the holidays
When choosing a new washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a lower capacity machine multiple times is less efficient than running a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the most efficient boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s two times the capacity you require for your home.

Household appliances get less efficient as they get older so replace older items first and if you have the funds available, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.