Energy Efficient Appliances

Most appliances look very comparable outwardly but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and therefore running expenditure.

Here you can find out everything you need to know about energy efficient household appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity saving devices are, how they work, the advantages of choosing them and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Tate Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is employing decreased energy to give the same results. For example, replacing a standard light bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as 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 only running the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient household appliances are created to give the same outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Lower power requirements result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many appliances available in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less electricity than standard models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are compared to other equal capacity household appliances.

These simple labels can be a good place to start when figuring out if a device is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Some examples of energy conserving household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Water Heaters
Washers
Dishwashers

How Electricity Efficient Appliances work

Electricity saving devices work by taking advantage of the latest technology to make sure they waste as little energy as they can. That might mean better insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Energy Efficient Devices

Choosing energy efficient devices is a good idea for many reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less energy it uses to complete its purpose. Meaning you can gain a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although lower energy devices might have a higher up-front cost they will generally save you money in the long run by cutting your energy bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Fuel Security. With resource costs continually increasing and natural resources always being used up choosing more efficient appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Energy Efficient Devices Genuinely Save Money?

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

The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable fall in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and future household appliances, the amount they get used and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are replacing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy it requires to run the bigger the possible savings. For example substituting an broken, inefficient, too big air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your home, could make a marked difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a much smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was produced in the 1990’s 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 lower.

You also have to make sure you use your household appliances efficiency functions to get the best savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When comparing new household appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the prime choice for you.

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances Help the Planet

Reducing energy consumption isn’t only about reducing your bills. Cutting energy requirements also has an environmental impact.

Our actions have big impacts on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the consumption of oil and gas that can be linked to air quality degradation and climate change.

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

What are ENERGY STAR rating Devices?

The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to allow for an readily understandable way for buyers to choose more efficient household appliances.

Rated products must meet both power efficiency and consumer needs in regards to performance and attributes.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, appliances must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard design in their grouping.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 20% less energy might get the rating. Thus although making sure you see the symbol is a good first step, it is still worth checking the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Electricity efficient appliances really do make a impression at a local and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.

When you are in the market for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label tells you the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it simpler to decide between brands and models.

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

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

Paying for one big fridge requires less energy than running two small ones. Unless you only turn on the second one at certain times of the year
When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine twice is less efficient than running a higher capacity machine for a single run.
Even the best boiler will never save you money if it’s four times the size you should be using for your home.

Appliances use more energy as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.