Energy Efficient Appliances

Most appliances appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result running expenditure.

In this article you will learn everything you need to know about energy efficient appliances. Discover what energy energy conserving household appliances are, how they work, 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 Shaw Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

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

Energy efficiency is linked to but distinct from energy conservation which involves employing less energy by changing the outcome. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving appliances are designed to provide the same outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Reduced power requirements result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to base models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how economical they are in comparison to other similar household appliances.

These simple labels can be a great first point of call when figuring out if an appliance is energy efficient or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Devices

Some different types of energy conserving household appliances include:

Fridges
Air Conditioners
Boilers
Washers
Dishwashers

How Low Energy Appliances work

Energy conserving household appliances work by employing the best current techniques to make sure they waste as little energy as possible. That might mean better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.

Reasons to Choose Electricity Saving Goods

Switching to energy conserving household appliances makes sense for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less power it uses . Meaning you can see a sizable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although lower energy household appliances may have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money over time by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our abuse of fossil fuels also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With energy costs constantly rising and natural resources continually depleting choosing more efficient appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Energy Efficient Devices Actually Cost Less?

Electricity saving household appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and by association your energy bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you see a noticeable fall in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and new household appliances, the amount they get used 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 needs to run the bigger the likely savings. I.e substituting an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a notable difference whereas uprating your fridge with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a significantly less noticeable impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in within the last decade the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to make certain you make use of your household appliances energy-efficient functions to get the best savings. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

When examining new household appliances 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 Environment

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

Human actions have big effects on the planet, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the use of non-renewable resources that are likely to be responsible for air pollution and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental cost of our daily actions the market is reacting with more eco-friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?

The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to provide an quickly recognizable way for buyers to decide upon more sustainable devices.

Rated products must meet both energy consumption and consumer requirements in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, devices must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their grouping.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy would get the rating. So although only looking at products with the rating is a good place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before making your final choice.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

Low energy devices really do make a impression at an individual and national level, reducing your bills and conserving both energy and resources.

If you are looking for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it easier to compare brands and designs.

You may also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make more personalized comparisons.

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

Running one full size fridge is more efficient than running two little ones. Unless you only need the second one occasionally
When choosing a new washing machine think about the amount of washing you tend to do as running a lower capacity machine multiple times will cost more than turning on a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the most efficient boiler will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s two times the capacity you require for your home.

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 items that use the most energy.