The majority of appliances look very similar on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and consequently running expenditure.
In this article you will find out everything you need to know about energy efficient devices. Learn more about what energy electricity efficient household appliances are, how they work, the benefits of making the switch and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Weatherford Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?
Put simply energy efficiency is using reduced energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.
Energy efficiency is related to but not the same as energy conservation which requires using less energy by changing the outcome. For example, opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.
Energy conserving appliances are created to give equivalent outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Reduced power usage result in lower utility bills and less environmental impact.
Many household appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which display how efficient they are when looked at next to other comparable appliances.
These simple labels can be a great starting point when determining if a device is electricity saving or not.
Types of Electricity Saving Appliances
Some examples of electricity efficient devices include:
- Refrigerators
- Air Purifiers
- Boilers
- Washing Machines
- Dishwashers
How Energy Conserving Devices work
Electricity efficient household appliances work by utilizing the most up to date technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might look like better insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.
Benefits of Low Energy Appliances
Using electricity saving household appliances is a good idea for many reasons:
- Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less energy it needs . Meaning you can experience a noticeable saving in energy without losing any productivity.
- Saving money. Although energy-efficient devices are likely to have a bigger ticket price they will generally save you money in the long run by reducing your utility bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our wastefulness of natural resources also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Energy Security. With resource costs constantly going up and natural resources always depleting choosing less energy intensive household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.
Do Energy Conserving Devices Genuinely Save Money?
Energy efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your electricity usage and therefore your electricity bills.
How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial fall in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the existing and replacement household appliances, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.
The older the appliance you are replacing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy the device uses to run the more significant the possible savings. I.e substituting an worn out, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your home, will make a marked impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is only 10% less energy intensive will have a much smaller impact.
Research suggests that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.
You also have to ensure you understand your household appliances energy-efficient functions to get the greatest savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.
When examining new household appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the usage costs will help you make the best choice for you.
How Energy Conserving Household Appliances Help the Environment
Reducing energy consumption isn’t just about cutting costs. Minimizing energy consumption also has an environmental impact.
The things we do have irreversible impacts on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the use of oil and gas that have been responsible for air quality degradation and climate change.
As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.
What are ENERGY STAR marked Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to allow for an easily recognizable way for buyers to choose more sustainable household appliances.
Certified appliances must meet both energy efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to performance and features.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the rating, devices must be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base model in their grouping.
However, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a washing machine that is 10% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient could get the certification. So although only looking at products with the rating is a great place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before making your final choice.
Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for You?
Energy efficient appliances really do make a impression at an individual and national level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.
If you are looking for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. It shows the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it easier to compare brands and models.
You might also want to know how much you spend on your energy so you can make more personalized comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:
- Paying for one bigger fridge is more efficient than running two smaller ones. Unless you only need the spare one during the holidays
- When choosing a new washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a smaller machine two times will cost more than running a higher capacity machine once.
- Even the lowest energy water heater will never save you money if it’s two times the size you require for your home.
Household appliances get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace older items first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.