Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances appear very similar externally but they can vary all together when it comes to energy saving and therefore operating costs.

Here you can find out all you need to know about energy conserving devices. Learn more about what energy efficient devices are, what makes them different, the advantages of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Energy Efficient Appliances.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing less energy to gain the same outcome. For example, replacing a standard bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires employing less energy by requiring a different result. For example, opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving appliances are designed to give the same outcomes using less energy allowing you to save money. Less energy usage result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many devices currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less energy than base models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which display how economical they are in comparison to other comparable devices.

These simple labels can be a handy first point of call when deciding if an appliance is electricity saving or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Appliances

Some different types of energy efficient devices include:

Fridges
Dehumidifiers
Boilers
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Efficient Devices work

Electricity efficient appliances work by taking advantage of the latest techniques to ensure they use as little power as possible. That might look like more advanced insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Choose Energy Efficient Goods

Switching to low energy appliances makes sense for multiple reasons:

Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less power it needs to complete its task. Meaning you can experience a big reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although lower energy appliances may have a more expensive ticket price they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from non-renewable resources and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our wastefulness of natural resources also conserves them for future generations.
Energy Security. With resource prices consistently rising and natural resources always depleting choosing less energy intensive household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Energy Conserving Household Appliances Really Reduce Bills?

Energy conserving household appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and in turn your energy bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial reduction in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and future devices, the amount they get used and the lifespan of the product.

The older the appliance you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy it uses to run the bigger the potential savings. I.e replacing an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your home, will make a notable impact whereas replacing your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in within the last decade the money you save will be much less significant.

You also have to make certain you make use of your devices energy-efficient settings to get the greatest reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When comparing new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the usage costs will make sure you make the prime decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Environment

Energy efficiency isn’t all about reducing your bills. Cutting energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have irreversible effects on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the use of oil and gas that can be responsible for air quality decline and global warming.

As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily actions the market is replying with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to allow for an quickly recognizable way for consumers to opt-for more efficient devices.

Rated products must meet both power consumption and consumer needs in regards to quality and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to be awarded the rating, devices are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base model in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 10% less energy and one that uses 18% 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 figures before making your final choice.

Is an Electricity Saving Appliance Right for You?

Low energy appliances really do make a difference at a local and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.

Next time you are in the market for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to decide between makes and models.

You may also want to make a note of how much your electricity costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

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

Running one bigger fridge requires less energy than running two smaller ones. Unless you only use the spare one occasionally
When purchasing a replacement washing machine think about the amount of washing you tend to do as running a space saving machine two times will cost more than turning on a higher capacity machine for a single run.
Even the lowest energy water heater will never save you money if it’s three times the spec you require for your home.

Devices use more energy as they get older so replace older items first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.