Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and therefore running expenditure.

In this article you can find out all you need to know about electricity saving appliances. Discover what energy efficient appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of choosing them and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Stanley Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is employing less energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by changing the outcome. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy efficient household appliances are engineered to give equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Reduced electricity usage result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many devices currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than standard models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which advertize how efficient they are compared to other similar devices.

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

Types of Low Energy Appliances

Some examples of energy efficient household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Appliances Work

Low energy household appliances work by employing the best current technology to maximize efficiency. That might be more advanced insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.

Advantages of Low Energy Devices

Choosing energy conserving devices is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less power it needs. Meaning you can gain a big saving in energy without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient appliances are likely to have a more expensive up-front cost they will generally save you money over time by cutting your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Energy Security. With fuel prices constantly going up and natural resources always depleting choosing energy-efficient household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Energy Conserving Appliances Really Cost Less?

Electricity efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your energy usage and in turn your utility bills.

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial fall in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and new appliances, the amount they get used and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the appliance requires to run the more significant the likely savings. I.e substituting an worn out, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your space, could make a noticeable difference whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a significantly less noticeable impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was made last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the savings will be much lower.

You also have to make sure you understand your appliances energy-efficient settings to get the greatest savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When contrasting new household appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will help you make the prime choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Devices Help the Environment

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

Our actions have big effects on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the consumption of oil and gas that appear to be correlated to air pollution and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR Marked Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to provide an easily recognizable way for consumers to opt-for more sustainable appliances.

Rated products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer expectations in regards to fulfillment and features.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, devices are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base model in their grouping.

As a result, 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 is 18% more efficient might get the certification. Therefore although making sure you see the star is a simple first step, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Saving Appliance Right for Your Home?

Low energy devices really do make a difference on an individual and national level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.

Next time you are shopping for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This label tells you the amount of energy an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to contrast brands and designs.

You’ll also want to make a note of how much your energy costs you so you can make better comparisons.

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

Running one bigger fridge requires less energy than having two little ones. Unless you only use the extra one at certain times of the year
When buying a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine two times uses more energy than turning on a bigger machine once.
Even the most efficient water heater will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s four times the capacity you should be using for your home.

Appliances use more energy as they deteriorate so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.