Energy Efficient Appliances

Most devices appear very similar externally but they can vary completely when it comes to energy saving and as a result operating expenditure.

In this article you will discover all you need to know about energy conserving devices. Discover what energy efficient household appliances are, how they operate, the advantages of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Vaughn’s Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing decreased energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing a filament bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which involves using less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. For example, opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or just using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient appliances are engineered to provide equivalent results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity usage result in lower utility bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which show how efficient they are when looked at next to other similar appliances.

These ratings can be a handy place to start when deciding if an appliance is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Devices

Some different types of electricity efficient household appliances include:

Fridges
Dehumidifiers
Boilers
Washers
Dishwashers

How Electricity Efficient Devices work

Electricity efficient appliances work by taking advantage of the best current techniques to make sure they use as little power as they can. That might mean superior insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.

Advantages of Electricity Efficient Devices

Switching to electricity saving devices is a good idea for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less energy it requires to undertake its task. Meaning you can see a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient devices might have a bigger ticket price they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the power we need for our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our exploitation of natural resources also conserves them for future generations.
Energy Security. With resource prices consistently rising and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient household appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Saving Appliances Actually Reduce Bills?

Energy conserving devices save you money by reducing your energy consumption and therefore your electricity bills.

How much you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable reduction in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement household appliances, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the appliance uses to run the more significant the potential savings. I.e replacing an broken, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the exact size for your home, will make a noticeable impact whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is just 10% less energy intensive will have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much lower.

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

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

How Electricity Efficient Devices Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t only about saving you money. Reducing energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have massive effects on the planet, 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 quality decline and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily decisions the market is replying with more eco-friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to allow for an easily understandable way for consumers to decide upon more eco-friendly appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both power efficiency and consumer expectations in regards to quality and features.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to be awarded the star mark, appliances must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base design in their category.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a fridge that uses 15% less energy and one that is 20% more efficient would get the rating. Therefore although looking out for the star is a great first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before making your final choice.

Is an Low Energy Appliance Right for Your Home?

Electricity efficient devices really do make a difference on an individual and international level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

Next time you are shopping for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It tells you the cost of electricity an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to contrast makes and designs.

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

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

Paying for one full size fridge is more efficient than running two smaller ones. Unless you only need the extra one during the holidays
When buying a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a space saving machine twice will cost more than running a higher capacity machine for a single run.
Even the lowest energy water heater will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s two times the spec you need for your home.

Household appliances get less efficient as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the ones that use the most energy.