Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of devices look very similar outwardly but they can vary completely when it comes to energy economy and consequently operating costs.

In this article you can learn everything you need to know about low energy devices. Learn more about what energy energy conserving appliances are, how they work, the advantages of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Brentwood Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing lower energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing a filament light bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by requiring a different result. Eg choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or just using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient household appliances are designed to offer the same results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Lower energy usage result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are when looked at next to other similar appliances.

These ratings can be a handy first point of call when figuring out if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Household Appliances

Some different types of electricity saving appliances include:

  • Fridges
  • Air Conditioners
  • Water Heaters
  • Washing Machines
  • Tumble Dryers

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances work

Electricity saving devices work by utilizing the best current technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might look like better insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Electricity Efficient Goods

Choosing low energy devices makes sense for many reasons:

  1. Saving energy. The more economical an appliance is the less power it requires . Meaning you can see a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
  2. Reducing cost. Although more efficient appliances may have a higher up-front cost they will generally save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from non-renewable resources and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our use of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
  4. Fuel Security. With fuel costs continually going up and natural resources continually depleting choosing less energy intensive appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Energy Efficient Appliances Genuinely Reduce Bills?

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

How much you save and whether or not you see a big fall in your household bills will depend on the difference between the old and new devices, the amount they get used and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy it requires to run the greater the potential savings. For example replacing an broken, wasteful, too big air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your space, will make a marked impact whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is just 10% more efficient is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was made last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.

You also have to make sure you use your household appliances efficiency settings to get the most significant reductions. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

When comparing new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will help you make the top decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t only about cutting costs. Cutting energy requirements also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the consumption of non-renewable resources that have been linked to air pollution and climate change.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental cost 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 washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR rating was created in 1992 to provide an readily detectable way for consumers to opt-for more sustainable appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both energy performance and consumer expectations in regards to quality and attributes.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to be awarded the rating, household appliances must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the standard model in their class.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated products are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a washing machine that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy could get the certification. Therefore although making sure you see the star is a good first step, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

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

If you are in the market for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This indicates the cost of electricity an appliance gets through and makes it easier to compare brands and styles.

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

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

  • Having one full size fridge is more efficient than paying for two little ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one during the holidays
  • When choosing a replacement washing machine think about the load size as running a space saving machine two times will cost more than running a bigger machine once.
  • Even the lowest energy boiler will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s two times the spec you should be using for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they get older so replace older items first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.

Additional Types of Appliances