Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of appliances look very comparable on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy efficiency and consequently running costs.

In this article you can learn everything you need to know about energy efficient household appliances. Discover what energy energy conserving household appliances are, how they work, the benefits of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Gold Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is employing less energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing a standard light bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but different from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by requiring a different result. Eg opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient household appliances are made to provide equivalent results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Reduced energy usage result in lower electricity bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices currently manufactured in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are when looked at next to other comparable household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy starting point when determining if an appliance is energy efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Devices

Some examples of energy efficient devices include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Water Heaters
Washers
Dishwashers

How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances work

Energy efficient devices work by taking advantage of the latest techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might mean better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.

Benefits of Electricity Efficient Goods

Switching to electricity efficient appliances makes sense for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The less energy intensive an appliance is the less power it uses . Meaning you can experience a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although lower energy household appliances might have a bigger initial cost they will inevitably save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our wastefulness of natural resources also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Fuel Security. With energy prices constantly increasing and natural resources continually depleting choosing less energy intensive appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Energy Efficient Devices Really Reduce Bills?

Electricity efficient appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and by association your utility bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a noticeable difference in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and future devices, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are replacing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy it needs to run the greater the likely savings. I.e substituting an broken, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a notable difference whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a markedly smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in the last 10 years the savings will be much less.

You also have to make sure you use your devices energy-efficient settings 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 contrasting new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will make sure you make the top decision for you.

How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Help the Planet

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

The things we do have big effects on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the consumption of non-renewable resources that can be responsible for air quality degradation and global warming.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily actions the market is responding with more environmentally friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR rating Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR rating was formed in 1992 to provide an quickly detectable way for consumers to choose more efficient household appliances.

Rated appliances must meet both energy efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to quality and attributes.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the star mark, household appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the standard design in their category.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked products are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that is 15% more efficient and one that uses 18% less energy could get the certification. So although making sure you see the symbol is a great place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Electricity efficient appliances really do make a difference at a local and global level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are shopping for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it easier to compare makes and styles.

You’ll also want to check how much your energy costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.

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

Paying for one bigger fridge is more efficient than paying for two smaller ones. Unless you only use the spare one at certain times of the year
When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a space saving machine multiple times uses more energy than turning on a bigger machine once.
Even the most efficient boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s two times the capacity you require for your home.

Household appliances use more energy as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.