Energy Efficient Appliances

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

In this article you can understand everything you need to know about electricity efficient devices. Discover what energy electricity efficient appliances are, how they operate, the benefits of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Hayes Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of less energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing a filament bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same amount of light 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. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Low energy household appliances are created to provide equivalent outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Lower energy requirements result in lower utility bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are compared to other equal capacity household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy place to start when determining if an appliance is electricity saving or not.

Types of Energy Conserving Devices

Some examples of low energy devices include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Boilers
Washers
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances work

Electricity efficient household appliances work by employing the latest techniques to minimize electricity consumption. That might mean better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.

Reasons to Choose Low Energy Devices

Choosing energy efficient appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less energy it requires to complete its task. Meaning you can see a sizable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although more efficient appliances might have a bigger ticket price they will generally save you money over time by cutting your utility bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our wastefulness of natural resources also preserves them for future generations.
Fuel Security. With fuel prices consistently going up and natural resources continually depleting choosing more efficient appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Electricity Saving Devices Really Reduce Bills?

Electricity saving appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and therefore your electricity bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you enjoy a noticeable reduction in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the previous and future household appliances, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the device needs to run the greater the potential savings. For example replacing an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the exact size for your home, could make a notable impact whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is only 10% more efficient will have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was produced in the 1990’s you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in within the last decade the money you save will be much less.

You also have to ensure you make use of your appliances energy saving settings to get the greatest reductions. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

When contrasting new devices factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will help you make the prime choice for you.

How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Help the Environment

Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about cutting costs. Minimizing energy usage also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have big impacts on the planet, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the consumption of non-renewable resources that have been correlated to air pollution and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily choices the market is responding with more energy efficient solutions to our problems. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to provide an easily recognizable way for consumers to decide upon more eco-friendly devices.

Certified appliances must meet both energy efficiency and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

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

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR rated products are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 10% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy could get the certification. So although making sure you see the rating is a good place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

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

Electricity efficient appliances really do make a impact at an individual and global level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.

If you are looking for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to compare makes and styles.

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

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

Having one big fridge requires less energy than having two small ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one during the holidays
When buying a replacement washing machine think about the amount of washing you tend to do as running a lower capacity machine two times is less efficient than running a bigger machine once.
Even the lowest energy boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s three times the capacity you require for your home.

Household appliances get less efficient as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.