Energy Efficient Appliances

Most devices appear very similar outwardly but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy saving and consequently operating costs.

In this article you will understand everything you need to know about electricity efficient appliances. Learn more about what energy efficient devices are, what makes them different, the advantages 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 Dawson’s Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing less energy to gain the same outcome. This could mean, replacing a filament bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires using less energy by requiring a different result. Eg opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient appliances are engineered to provide the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity 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 energy than standard models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which display how efficient they are compared to other equal capacity devices.

These simple labels can be a good starting point when determining if an appliance is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Household Appliances

Some examples of energy efficient household appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Conditioners
Boilers
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Electricity efficient devices work by employing the best current technology to minimize energy consumption. That might look like superior insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.

Benefits of Electricity Saving Appliances

Choosing low energy household appliances makes sense for multiple reasons:

Reducing energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less resources it requires to complete its purpose. Meaning you can experience a sizable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient devices may have a more expensive initial cost they will usually save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we need for our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our abuse of natural resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Fuel Security. With energy prices consistently rising and natural resources constantly being used up choosing less energy intensive appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Genuinely Reduce Bills?

Low energy devices save you money by reducing your energy usage and in turn your electricity bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a substantial fall in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement devices, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are changing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy it uses to run the bigger the likely 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 space, could make a noticeable impact whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is only 10% more efficient will have a much smaller impact.

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

You also have to make sure you make use of your appliances energy saving functions to get the best savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When comparing new household appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will ensure you make the best decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Planet

Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about saving you money. Minimizing energy consumption also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have big effects on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the burning of oil and gas that have been correlated to air pollution and climate change.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily decisions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was created in 1992 to provide an easily recognizable way for buyers to choose more eco-friendly appliances.

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

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR rating change according to the device being tested. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, devices are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard design in their category.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy would get the certification. Therefore although looking out for the rating is a simple place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

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

Electricity efficient household appliances really do make a difference at an individual and global level, saving you money over time and better use of energy and resources.

Next time you are shopping for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. It tells you the amount of energy an appliance uses and makes it simpler to contrast brands and styles.

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

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Having one bigger fridge is more efficient than running two small ones. Unless you only need the second one at certain times of the year
When purchasing a new washing machine consider the load size as running a space saving machine multiple times will cost more than turning on a higher capacity machine once.
Even the best water heater will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s four times the spec you should be using for your home.

Appliances use more energy as they age so replace older items first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.