Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of appliances appear very comparable externally but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and as a result operating costs.

In this article you will learn everything you need to know about electricity efficient devices. Discover what energy energy conserving devices are, what makes them different, the benefits of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Carrollton Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of decreased energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is similar to but different from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by changing the outcome. Eg opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity saving appliances are engineered to offer the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity requirements result in lower utility bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many devices available in the United States are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower rated models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which display how efficient they are compared to other similar household appliances.

These simple labels can be a great place to start when deciding if an appliance is electricity saving or not.

Types of Low Energy Household Appliances

Some different types of electricity efficient appliances include:

  • Fridge-Freezers
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Water Heaters
  • Washing Machines
  • Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Electricity saving appliances work by employing the most up to date techniques to maximize efficiency. That might mean more advanced insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.

Reasons to Choose Electricity Saving Goods

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

  1. Saving energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less energy it requires to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can experience a big saving in energy without losing any productivity.
  2. Saving money. Although energy-efficient appliances are likely to have a more expensive initial cost they will generally save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our exploitation of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
  4. Energy Security. With resource costs constantly going up and natural resources always depleting choosing less energy intensive household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Low Energy Appliances Really Cost Less?

Low energy appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and by association your energy bills.

How much you save and whether or not you see a big difference in your household bills will depend on the difference between the previous and future appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are changing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the appliance uses to run the greater the potential savings. I.e replacing an worn out, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a marked difference whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is just 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.

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

You also have to make sure you make use of your household appliances efficiency settings 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 comparing new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will ensure you make the top choice for you.

How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Environment

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

Human actions have massive effects on the environment, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the consumption of oil and gas that are likely to be responsible for air quality degradation and climate change.

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

What are ENERGY STAR certified Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was created in 1992 to provide an easily understandable way for people to opt-for more efficient appliances.

Certified products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to quality and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the star mark, devices are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard product in their class.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated products are equal in terms of efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 10% less energy and one that is 18% more efficient might get the certification. Therefore although making sure you see the star is a good starting point, it is still worth checking the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Electricity efficient household appliances really do make a impression on an individual and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.

When you are shopping for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it easier to decide between makes and designs.

You may also want to make a note of how much your electricity costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

  • Running one bigger fridge is more efficient than having two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one at certain times of the year
  • When choosing a new washing machine think about the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine multiple times uses more energy than running a bigger machine for a single run.
  • Even the lowest energy water heater will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s three times the capacity you should be using for your home.

Appliances use more energy as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you are able to, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.

Additional Types of Appliances