Energy Efficient Appliances

Many household appliances appear very similar outwardly but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy economy and as a result operating costs.

Here you will discover everything you need to know about energy efficient appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity efficient appliances are, how they work, the advantages of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Freedom Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of less energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing a traditional light bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which requires using less energy by requiring a different result. For example, choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient appliances are engineered to offer the same results in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Reduced power usage result in lower energy bills and less environmental impact.

Many appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which display how efficient they are when looked at next to other equal capacity appliances.

These simple labels can be a handy starting point when deciding if an appliance is energy conserving or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Appliances

Some different types of energy efficient devices include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washers
Dishwashers

How Electricity Saving Devices work

Energy efficient appliances work by utilizing the latest technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might look like more advanced insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Electricity Saving Goods

Using electricity efficient devices is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more efficient a device is the less energy it requires to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can gain a big saving in energy without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although lower energy household appliances may have a more expensive ticket price they will inevitably save you money in the long run by cutting your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the power we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our wastefulness of fossil fuels also conserves them for future generations.
Resource Security. With fuel prices consistently increasing and natural resources continually depleting choosing energy-efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Saving Devices Actually Reduce Bills?

Low energy 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 enjoy a big difference in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the previous and replacement household appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are replacing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy it uses to run the more significant the likely savings. For example substituting an worn out, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the exact size for your space, could make a marked difference whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a significantly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced in the 1990’s you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less significant.

You also have to make sure you understand your household appliances energy-efficient settings 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 contrasting new appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the top decision for you.

How Low Energy Appliances Help the Planet

Reducing energy consumption isn’t just about reducing your bills. Cutting energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have big impacts on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the use of oil and gas that are likely to be correlated to air quality degradation and global warming.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily choices the market is replying with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to allow for an easily recognizable way for people to opt-for more sustainable household appliances.

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

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, household appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base model in their category.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 10% less energy and one that is 22% more efficient could get the certification. Therefore although looking out for the star is a good first step, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Low Energy Appliance Right for Your Home?

Electricity efficient household appliances really do make a difference at an individual and national level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

If you are looking for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This label tells you the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it easier to decide between brands and designs.

You might also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make more personalized comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Having one large fridge is more efficient than having two small ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one during the holidays
When purchasing a new washing machine think about the amount of washing you tend to do as running a lower capacity machine two times is less efficient than running a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the best boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s two times the spec you require for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.