Energy Efficient Appliances

Many appliances appear very comparable from the outside but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy efficiency and consequently operating expenditure.

In this article you can understand everything you need to know about energy conserving household appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity saving household appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact National City Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which requires employing less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. Eg choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity saving appliances are created to give equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save money. Less electricity requirements result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices available in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than standard models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which display how efficient they are compared to other comparable devices.

These ratings can be a great place to start when deciding if a device is electricity saving or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Devices

Some different types of energy efficient appliances include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Air Purifiers
  • Boilers
  • Washers
  • Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances work

Electricity saving household appliances work by taking advantage of the best current techniques to make sure they waste as little energy as possible. That might be better insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.

Advantages of Energy Conserving Goods

Switching to electricity saving devices is a good idea for many reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The less energy intensive an appliance is the less resources it requires . Meaning you can see a sizable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
  2. Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient appliances may have a higher initial cost they will usually save you money over time by cutting your utility bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we need for our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our use of fossil fuels also preserves them for future generations.
  4. Resource Security. With fuel prices consistently going up and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient devices is a more sustainable option.

Do Energy Conserving Household Appliances Really Save Money?

Energy efficient devices save you money by reducing your power consumption and by association your utility bills.

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a noticeable reduction in your monthly bills will depend on the difference between the previous and future household appliances, the degree of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the good you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy it uses to run the greater the possible savings. I.e replacing an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the perfect size for your space, could make a notable difference whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less significant.

You also have to make certain you make use of your appliances energy-efficient settings to get the best savings. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

When comparing new devices factoring in both the upfront price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the best decision for you.

How Electricity Efficient Appliances Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t all about saving you money. Reducing energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

Human actions have big impacts on the planet, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the burning of oil and gas that can be responsible for air pollution and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Devices?

The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to ensure an easily understandable way for buyers to choose more eco-friendly devices.

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

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to be awarded the ENERGY STAR, appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base product in their grouping.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that is 15% more efficient and one that uses 20% less energy might get the rating. Thus although making sure you see the rating is a good place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Energy efficient household appliances really do make a impact on an individual and international level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

If you are shopping for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It tells you the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it easier to decide between makes and models.

You might also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make better comparisons.

Size makes a difference when it comes to home appliances. For example:

  • Paying for one large fridge is more efficient than paying for two small ones. Unless you only need the second one at certain times of the year
  • When purchasing a replacement washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a smaller machine two times will cost more than running a higher capacity machine once.
  • Even the lowest energy water heater will be unable to save you money if it’s three times the size you require for your home.

Household appliances get less efficient as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.

Additional Types of Appliances