Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances look very similar on the face of it but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and therefore operating costs.

In this article you can learn all you need to know about low energy devices. Learn more about what energy low energy devices are, what makes them different, the benefits of choosing them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Direct Oceanside Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is making use of less energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which involves using less energy by requiring a different result. Eg opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient household appliances are made to offer equivalent results in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Reduced energy usage result in lower energy bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less energy than lower rated models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which show how efficient they are in comparison to other equal capacity household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy first point of call when deciding if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Devices

Some examples of electricity efficient devices include:

  • Fridges
  • Air Purifiers
  • Water Heaters
  • Washers
  • Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances work

Energy efficient devices work by applying the best current 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.

Reasons to Choose Electricity Saving Appliances

Choosing energy conserving devices makes sense for many reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less power it requires to complete its task. Meaning you can gain a dramatic saving in energy without losing any productivity.
  2. Reducing cost. Although lower energy appliances are likely to have a bigger ticket price they will inevitably save you money over time by cutting your electricity bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our abuse of fossil fuels also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
  4. Fuel Security. With energy costs consistently increasing and natural resources constantly depleting choosing energy-efficient appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Electricity Efficient Devices Genuinely Reduce Bills?

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

The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a noticeable reduction in your household bills will depend on the difference between the previous and new devices, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are upgrading is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy the appliance uses to run the more significant the likely savings. I.e substituting an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the correct size for your home, will make a notable impact whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is just 10% more efficient is likely to have a much smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was made last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you understand your household appliances efficiency functions to get the greatest savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

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

How Low Energy Appliances Help the Environment

Reducing energy consumption isn’t just about reducing your bills. Minimizing energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have massive effects on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the burning of non-renewable resources that can be responsible for air pollution and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental cost of our daily actions the market is replying with more eco-friendly solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR rating was created in 1992 to ensure an easily recognizable way for buyers to decide upon more sustainable household appliances.

Rated products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer expectations in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to have the star mark, household appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base design in their class.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are equal in terms of efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 20% less energy could get the symbol. Thus although only looking at products with the star is a great starting point, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before making your final choice.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Energy efficient devices really do make a impact at an individual and national level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.

If you are in the market for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it simpler to contrast makes and designs.

You’ll also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.

Size matters when it comes to home appliances. For example:

  • Having one bigger fridge requires less energy than running two little ones. Unless you only use the extra one at certain times of the year
  • When choosing a new washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a space saving machine twice will cost more than running a bigger machine for a single run.
  • Even the most efficient boiler will not save you money if it’s three times the spec you require for your home.

Devices get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances