The majority of devices appear very similar outwardly but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and therefore operating expenditure.
Here you can learn all you need to know about energy efficient household appliances. Learn more about what energy energy conserving appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of choosing them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Excel Kent Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?
In simple terms energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing a filament bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your roof so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is linked to but distinct from energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by changing the outcome. 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 household appliances are engineered to give equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Lower energy requirements result in lower energy bills and less environmental impact.
Many household appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most devices have EnergyGuide labels which show how efficient they are compared to other comparable appliances.
These ratings can be a good starting point when figuring out if an appliance is energy efficient or not.
Types of Energy Efficient Devices
Some different types of energy conserving household appliances include:
- Refrigerators
- Air Conditioners
- Boilers
- Washing Machines
- Dishwashers
How Energy Efficient Appliances work
Electricity efficient devices work by applying the best current technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might look like superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.
Reasons to Choose Energy Conserving Appliances
Using energy conserving devices makes sense for a number of reasons:
- Saving energy. The more economical a device is the less power it needs to undertake its task. Meaning you can see a dramatic saving in energy without losing any productivity.
- Reducing cost. Although lower energy household appliances are likely to have a higher up-front cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your energy bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our wastefulness of fossil fuels also keeps them for future generations.
- Energy Security. With energy prices constantly rising and natural resources continually depleting choosing more efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.
Do Electricity Efficient Appliances Genuinely Save Money?
Energy efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your power usage and in turn your utility bills.
The amount you save and whether or not you see a substantial difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and future household appliances, the amount they get used and how long the product lasts.
The older the appliance you are changing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the device requires to run the more significant the likely savings. I.e substituting an old, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the correct size for your space, could make a noticeable difference whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is just 10% more efficient will have a significantly less noticeable impact.
Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in within the last decade the money you save will be much less.
You also have to ensure you use your appliances efficiency settings to get the best reductions. 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 purchase price and the running costs will make sure you make the top decision for you.
How Electricity Efficient Devices Help the Environment
Saving energy isn’t all about reducing your bills. Cutting energy usage also has a sustainability impact.
Human actions have massive impacts on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the consumption of fossil fuels that are likely to be responsible for air quality degradation and global warming.
As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental cost 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 air conditioners.
What are ENERGY STAR rating Devices?
The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to ensure an easily understandable way for consumers to choose more sustainable devices.
Certified products must meet both power efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to fulfillment and features.
The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to gain the rating, devices must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base model in their class.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy could get the certification. So although looking out for the star is a great first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before making your final choice.
Is an Energy Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?
Electricity efficient devices really do make a impression on an individual and international level, reducing your bills and better use of energy and resources.
Next time you are shopping for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it simpler to contrast makes and designs.
You’ll also want to know how much you spend on your energy so you can make more personalized comparisons.
Size matters when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Paying for one big fridge is more efficient than having two small ones. Unless you only need the second one during the holidays
- When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a lower capacity machine twice uses more energy than turning on a bigger machine for a single run.
- Even the most efficient boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s three times the size you should be using for your home.
Devices get less efficient as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.