The majority of devices appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and therefore operating costs.
Here you can find out everything you need to know about energy conserving household appliances. Discover what energy electricity efficient devices are, what makes them different, the advantages of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Nashua Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is using lower energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your roof so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. For example, opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.
Energy efficient household appliances are engineered to give equivalent outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Reduced power usage result in lower utility bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Many devices for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to standard models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which advertise how efficient they are compared to other comparable household appliances.
These ratings can be a good first point of call when determining if a device is energy conserving or not.
Types of Energy Efficient Devices
Some different types of low energy devices include:
- Refrigerators
- Air Conditioners
- Water Heaters
- Washing Machines
- Tumble Dryers
How Electricity Efficient Appliances work
Energy conserving appliances work by applying the most up to date technology to maximize efficiency. That might look like superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.
Reasons to Switch to Electricity Saving Goods
Switching to electricity efficient household appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:
- Saving energy. The more economical a device is the less power it uses to undertake its task. Meaning you can experience a sizable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
- Reducing cost. Although lower energy household appliances are likely to have a higher ticket price they will usually save you money over time by cutting your electricity bills.
- Environmental benefits. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our exploitation of fossil fuels also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Resource Security. With resource prices constantly increasing and natural resources continually depleting choosing less energy intensive household appliances is a more sustainable option.
Do Electricity Saving Household Appliances Genuinely Save Money?
Electricity efficient devices save you money by reducing your energy consumption and by association your energy bills.
The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial reduction in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and new household appliances, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.
The older the device you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the appliance uses to run the bigger the possible savings. I.e replacing an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your home, will make a notable impact whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive will have a much less noticeable impact.
Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much lower.
You also have to make sure you make use of your devices efficiency settings to get the most significant savings. 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 ticket price and the usage costs will make sure you make the prime decision for you.
How Energy Efficient Appliances Help the Planet
Saving energy isn’t only about reducing your bills. Minimizing energy requirements also has an environmental impact.
The things we do have big effects on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the burning of oil and gas that are likely to be responsible for air pollution and global warming.
As the general population become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily choices the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.
What are ENERGY STAR rating Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to provide an easily understandable way for people to decide upon more efficient household appliances.
Rated products must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to quality and attributes.
The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating change according to the device being tested. In order to be awarded the star mark, appliances must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base model in their grouping.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified appliances are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy might get the certification. Thus although making sure you see the symbol is a simple starting point, it is still worth checking the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.
Is an Low Energy Appliance Right for Your Home?
Electricity saving devices really do make a impact at a local and national level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.
If you are shopping for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to compare brands and designs.
You’ll also want to know how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.
Size makes a difference when it comes to appliances. For example:
- Running one bigger fridge requires less energy than having two little ones. Unless you only need the extra one during the holidays
- When choosing a new washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a smaller machine two times will cost more than using a higher capacity machine for a single run.
- Even the lowest energy boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s three times the spec you require for your home.
Devices get less efficient as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you are able to, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.