Energy Efficient Appliances

Many devices appear very comparable from the outside but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result running costs.

Here you can understand everything you need to know about energy conserving household appliances. Learn more about what energy efficient household appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of using them and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Finest Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is using less energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing a traditional light bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Low energy devices are designed to offer the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Reduced electricity usage result in lower utility bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many devices currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which display how economical they are when looked at next to other similar household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy place to start when figuring out if a device is energy conserving or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Household Appliances

Some examples of energy conserving devices include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Boilers
  • Washing Machines
  • Dishwashers

How Low Energy Appliances work

Electricity efficient appliances work by utilizing the best current techniques to maximize efficiency. That might be more advanced insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Choose Energy Efficient Appliances

Using electricity saving devices makes sense for many reasons:

  1. Saving energy. The more economical an appliance is the less energy it uses to undertake its task. Meaning you can see a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
  2. Saving money. Although lower energy devices might have a higher ticket price they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your energy bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we use in our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our exploitation of fossil fuels also keeps them for future generations.
  4. Resource Security. With energy costs continually going up and natural resources always depleting choosing energy-efficient household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Electricity Saving Household Appliances Really Save Money?

Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your electricity usage and by association your utility bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a substantial reduction in your monthly bills will depend on the difference between the old and replacement household appliances, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the device uses to run the more significant the likely savings. I.e replacing an broken, inefficient, oversized air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the correct size for your home, will make a notable difference whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is just 10% less energy intensive will have a markedly less noticeable impact.

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

You also have to make certain you understand your appliances energy-efficient settings to get the greatest 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 upfront price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the best decision for you.

How Electricity Efficient Devices Help the Planet

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

The things we do have big impacts on the planet, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the use of oil and gas that have been responsible for air quality degradation and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is reacting with more environmentally friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR rating was formed in 1992 to ensure an quickly understandable way for people to opt-for more efficient appliances.

Rated appliances must meet both power performance and consumer needs in regards to quality and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR certification vary between different appliances. In order to gain the rating, devices are required to be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base design in their class.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that uses 10% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy would get the certification. So although looking out for the star is a simple starting point, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Electricity saving appliances really do make a difference at an individual and global level, reducing your bills and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are shopping for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it easier to compare brands and designs.

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

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

  • Having one full size fridge requires less energy than having two small ones. Unless you only turn on the second one occasionally
  • When buying a replacement washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a space saving machine twice will cost more than using a bigger machine once.
  • Even the best water heater will not reduce your bills if it’s three times the capacity you should be using for your home.

Household appliances get less efficient as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances

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