Energy Efficient Appliances

Many household appliances appear very similar from the outside but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and consequently operating costs.

Here you will understand all you need to know about low energy household appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity efficient household appliances 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 Gray Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is employing lower energy to give the same results. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your roof so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but distinct from energy conservation which requires using less energy by requiring a different result. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient devices are engineered to offer the same results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Reduced energy usage result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which advertize how economical they are in comparison to other equal capacity devices.

These ratings can be a great starting point when determining if a device is electricity saving or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Household Appliances

Some examples of electricity efficient appliances include:

Fridges
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Energy Efficient Appliances work

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

Benefits of Energy Efficient Goods

Switching to low energy household appliances makes sense for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more economical an appliance is the less resources it needs . Meaning you can gain a sizable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient household appliances are likely to have a bigger initial cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our abuse of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future generations.
Energy Security. With resource costs continually increasing and natural resources always being used up choosing energy-efficient household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Energy Efficient Appliances Genuinely Save Money?

Electricity saving devices save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and by association your energy bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable difference in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement appliances, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy it requires to run the more significant the potential savings. For example replacing an worn out, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a notable difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is merely 10% more efficient will have a significantly less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made in the 1990’s you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in within the last decade the money you save will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you make use of 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 contrasting new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will ensure you make the prime choice for you.

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t just about cutting costs. Cutting energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have massive effects on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the use of non-renewable resources that appear to be correlated to air quality decline and climate change.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions 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 certified Devices?

The ENERGY STAR certification was created in 1992 to provide an easily understandable way for buyers to opt-for more eco-friendly household appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer expectations in regards to fulfillment and features.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR rating change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard model in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a freezer that is 15% more efficient and one that uses 20% less energy might get the certification. So although looking out for the symbol is a simple starting point, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Electricity efficient household appliances really do make a difference at an individual and national level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are shopping for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This shows the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it simpler to compare brands and models.

You’ll also want to know how much your energy costs you so you can make better comparisons.

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

Running one big fridge is more efficient than having two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the second one at certain times of the year
When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine two times will cost more than running a higher capacity machine once.
Even the best boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s two times the spec you should be using for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they deteriorate so replace older items first and if you are able to, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.