Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances appear very similar on the face of it but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy economy and as a result operating costs.

Here you will understand all you need to know about energy efficient devices. Discover what energy efficient household appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of making the switch and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Allen Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is using decreased energy to gain the same outcome. This could mean, replacing a standard light bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but distinct from energy conservation which involves employing less energy by changing the outcome. Eg choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving appliances are engineered to offer equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Less power usage result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many household appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances have EnergyGuide labels which advertise how efficient they are in comparison to other comparable household appliances.

These ratings can be a good place to start when determining if an appliance is energy conserving or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Some different types of energy efficient household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Energy efficient devices work by employing the latest techniques to maximize efficiency. That might mean better insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Electricity Saving Goods

Switching to electricity efficient household appliances is a good idea for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The more economical an appliance is the less power it needs . Meaning you can gain a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although more efficient devices might have a bigger up-front cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your utility bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our use of fossil fuels also keeps them for future generations.
Resource Security. With energy costs constantly increasing and natural resources continually depleting choosing more efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Low Energy Devices Genuinely Save Money?

Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and therefore your electricity bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you see a noticeable fall in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and new household appliances, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are upgrading is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy it uses to run the greater the potential savings. For example replacing an worn out, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the perfect size for your home, will make a marked difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is just 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.

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

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

When comparing new appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the usage costs will help you make the prime choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances Help the Environment

Energy efficiency isn’t all about cutting costs. Reducing energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the use of non-renewable resources that appear to be linked to air quality degradation and climate change.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily decisions the market is reacting with more environmentally friendly solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was started in 1992 to provide an readily detectable way for people to choose more efficient appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both power consumption and consumer requirements in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark change according to the device being tested. In order to have the star mark, appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base design in their class.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a freezer that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 20% less energy could get the certification. So although making sure you see the symbol is a great first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

Low energy devices really do make a impact at a local and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.

Next time you are in the market for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This shows the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it simpler to decide between makes and models.

You may also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

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

Running one bigger fridge is more efficient than having two little ones. Unless you only use the spare one at certain times of the year
When buying a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a smaller machine multiple times uses more energy than running a higher capacity machine once.
Even the most efficient boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s four times the spec you require for your home.

Household appliances use more energy as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.