Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances appear very comparable externally but they can vary completely when it comes to energy economy and therefore running expenditure.

Here you will understand all you need to know about electricity efficient household appliances. Discover what energy electricity efficient household appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Rogers Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is employing lower energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your roof so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but not the same as energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by changing the outcome. Eg choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or only using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving household appliances are created to give the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Lower power usage result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which advertize how economical they are in comparison to other comparable appliances.

These ratings can be a good place to start when determining if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Devices

Some different types of low energy household appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Low Energy Household Appliances work

Energy efficient devices work by taking advantage of the best current technology to ensure they use as little electric as possible. That might be superior insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Conserving Devices

Using energy conserving household appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Saving energy. The more efficient an appliance is the less energy it requires . Meaning you can gain a big reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although lower energy devices are likely to have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money over time by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With energy prices continually going up and natural resources always being used up choosing less energy intensive household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Low Energy Household Appliances Really Save Money?

Energy conserving devices save you money by reducing your energy consumption and therefore your energy bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you enjoy a noticeable difference in your household bills will depend on the difference between the existing and new household appliances, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the good you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy it requires to run the greater the potential savings. For example replacing an worn out, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a notable difference whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is just 10% less energy intensive will have a much smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was built last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in the last 10 years the savings will be much lower.

You also have to make sure you make use of 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 examining new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will help you make the best decision for you.

How Low Energy Appliances Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t all about reducing your bills. Cutting energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the use of non-renewable resources that have been correlated to air quality degradation and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is reacting with more eco-friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR rating Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was created in 1992 to allow for an easily recognizable way for people to choose more efficient household appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both energy performance and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and features.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR rating change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base model in their category.

However, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a fridge that is 10% more efficient and one that is 18% more efficient could get the certification. Thus although making sure you see the symbol is a simple first step, it is still worth checking the actual energy savings before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for You?

Electricity efficient devices really do make a impact at a local and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are looking for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. It shows the amount of energy an appliance uses and makes it easier to contrast makes and styles.

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

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one full size fridge is more efficient than having two little ones. Unless you only turn on the extra one at certain times of the year
When choosing a replacement washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine twice will cost more than turning on a higher capacity machine once.
Even the most efficient boiler will not save you money if it’s three times the capacity you require for your home.

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