Energy Efficient Appliances

Most devices look very similar on the face of it but they can vary completely when it comes to energy economy and consequently operating costs.

In this article you can learn all you need to know about electricity efficient appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity efficient appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of using them and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances or home appliance repairs, contact Ward Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to give the same results. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but different from energy conservation which requires using less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. Eg opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity saving appliances are designed to provide equivalent outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Reduced power usage result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels and limits the likelihood of fixing broken appliances in a home.

Many appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less power than lower rated models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how economical they are compared to other equal capacity household appliances.

These ratings can be a great starting point when deciding if an appliance is electricity saving or not.

Types of Energy Conserving Appliances

Some different types of energy efficient appliances include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Water Heaters
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Electricity Efficient Appliances work

Energy efficient household appliances work by employing the best current techniques to minimize electricity consumption. That might mean better insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to minimize drying time.

Benefits of Low Energy Appliances

Using electricity saving devices makes sense for a number of reasons:

Reducing energy. The more efficient a device is the less energy it uses to complete its task. Meaning you can experience a big saving in energy without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient devices are likely to have a higher initial cost they will generally save you money over time by cutting your utility bills and reducing appliance repair appointments.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our exploitation of natural resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With fuel prices continually increasing and natural resources always depleting choosing more efficient appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Efficient Appliances Actually Reduce Bills?

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

How much you save and whether or not you see a substantial fall in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement devices, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy it needs to run the bigger the likely savings. I.e replacing an worn out, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your space, could make a marked difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is just 10% less energy intensive will have a much smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.

You also have to ensure you understand your household appliances energy-efficient settings 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 appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the usage costs will help you make the best choice for you.

How Electricity Efficient Appliances Help the Planet

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

The things we do have big impacts on the planet, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the consumption of fossil fuels that appear to be responsible for air quality degradation and climate change.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is responding with more energy efficient solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was created in 1992 to ensure an easily understandable way for people to choose more eco-friendly appliances.

Rated products must meet both power performance and consumer requirements in regards to performance and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, household 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 equal in terms of efficiency. For example a freezer that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy could get the rating. So although making sure you see the rating is a good starting point, it is still worth checking the actual energy usage before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Electricity saving household appliances really do make a difference at an individual and international level, reducing your bills and conserving both energy and resources.

Next time you are in the market for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It shows the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to compare brands and styles.

You might also want to check how much you spend on your energy so you can make accurate comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one bigger fridge is more efficient than paying for two small ones. Unless you only use the second one at certain times of the year
When buying a replacement washing machine think about the load size as running a space saving machine two times uses more energy than turning on a higher capacity machine for a single run.
Even the lowest energy boiler will not save you money if it’s three 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 are able to, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.