Many household appliances appear very comparable from the outside but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and as a result running costs.
Here you can learn all you need to know about electricity saving household appliances. Discover what energy low energy appliances are, how they operate, the benefits of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Choice Hawthorne Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?
Put simply energy efficiency is using less energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing a standard light bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.
Energy efficiency is similar to but distinct from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by requiring a different result. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or only running the washing machine when you have a full load.
Low energy household appliances are created to give the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Less energy usage result in lower energy bills and less environmental impact.
Many household appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less power than lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices display EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other equal capacity devices.
These simple labels can be a good place to start when determining if a device is energy conserving or not.
Types of Energy Conserving Appliances
Some examples of electricity saving appliances include:
- Refrigerators
- Dehumidifiers
- Water Heaters
- Washing Machines
- Tumble Dryers
How Energy Efficient Devices work
Energy efficient appliances work by applying the most up to date techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might mean superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.
Reasons to Choose Low Energy Devices
Choosing electricity saving household appliances is a good idea for many reasons:
- Saving energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less power it requires to undertake its task. Meaning you can experience a big saving in energy without losing any productivity.
- Reducing cost. Although more efficient household appliances are likely to have a more expensive ticket price they will usually save you money over time by cutting your energy bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our use of natural resources also preserves them for future generations.
- Energy Security. With fuel costs continually increasing and natural resources constantly being used up choosing energy-efficient household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.
Do Electricity Saving Devices Really Reduce Bills?
Electricity efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your energy usage and therefore your electricity bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a substantial fall in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and future household appliances, the degree of use and the lifespan of the product.
The older the appliance you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the appliance requires to run the bigger the likely savings. I.e substituting an broken, inefficient, too big air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your home, will make a noticeable impact whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.
Studies suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the money you save will be much lower.
You also have to make certain you understand your devices energy saving 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 examining new household appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the prime decision for you.
How Low Energy Household Appliances Help the Environment
Energy efficiency isn’t all about reducing your bills. Cutting energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.
Our actions have massive impacts on the planet, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the consumption of fossil fuels that are likely to be responsible for air pollution and climate change.
As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily decisions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy washing machines.
What are ENERGY STAR marked Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR rating was created in 1992 to ensure an readily understandable way for consumers to decide upon more eco-friendly devices.
Rated products must meet both power efficiency and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and attributes.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to have the rating, household appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard design in their category.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 15% less energy and one that is 18% more efficient would get the certification. So although making sure you see the star is a good first step, it is still worth checking the actual figures before picking the best one for you.
Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?
Energy efficient appliances really do make a impression at an individual and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.
Next time you are shopping for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. It tells you the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it easier to compare brands and styles.
You’ll also want to know how much your electricity costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.
Size makes a difference when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Running one bigger fridge requires less energy than running two little ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one during the holidays
- When choosing a replacement washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine twice uses more energy than turning on a higher capacity machine for a single run.
- Even the best boiler will be unable to save you money if it’s four times the size you should be using for your home.
Appliances get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you are able to, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.