Energy Efficient Appliances

Most devices appear very similar from the outside but they can vary all together when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result running expenditure.

In this article you can find out all you need to know about energy conserving household appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity efficient appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Cross Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of less energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing a standard bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which requires using less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving devices are created to provide the same results using less energy allowing you to save money. Lower energy requirements result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many household appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less power than base models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are in comparison to other similar household appliances.

These ratings can be a great starting point when figuring out if an appliance is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Appliances

Some different types of electricity efficient household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Low Energy Devices work

Electricity saving devices work by taking advantage of the best current technology to ensure they waste as little energy as possible. That might be superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Energy Efficient Appliances

Switching to low energy household appliances is a good idea for multiple reasons:

Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less resources it requires to complete its task. Meaning you can see a sizable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient devices might have a higher up-front cost they will generally save you money in the long run by cutting your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our use of non-renewable resources also preserves them for future generations.
Resource Security. With resource prices constantly rising and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient devices is a more sustainable option.

Do Low Energy Devices Actually Save Money?

Energy efficient appliances save you money by reducing your power usage and therefore your energy bills.

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial reduction in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and replacement devices, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the device requires to run the greater the likely savings. For example replacing an broken, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your space, could make a notable difference whereas replacing your fridge with one that is just 10% more efficient will have a much smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was made last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in the last 10 years the money you save will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you use your appliances energy-efficient settings to get the most significant savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When examining new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the usage costs will help you make the top choice for you.

How Low Energy Household Appliances Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t only about saving you money. Cutting energy usage also has an environmental impact.

Our actions have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the burning of fossil fuels that have been linked to air quality decline and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily actions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR rating Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was started in 1992 to allow for an quickly detectable way for consumers to choose more sustainable household appliances.

Rated products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer needs in regards to quality and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the ENERGY STAR, appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard design in their class.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that is 10% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient might get the certification. Therefore although only looking at products with the star is a simple starting point, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for Your Home?

Energy efficient devices really do make a impact on an individual and national level, reducing your bills and better use of energy and resources.

Next time you are shopping for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to contrast makes and models.

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

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

Having one big fridge is more efficient than running two smaller ones. Unless you only use the extra one at certain times of the year
When purchasing a new washing machine consider the load size as running a space saving machine multiple times is less efficient than running a bigger machine once.
Even the most efficient boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s two times the size you should be using for your home.

Household appliances reduce in efficiency as they age so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.