Energy Efficient Appliances

Many household appliances appear very comparable outwardly but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy saving and as a result running expenditure.

Here you can discover everything you need to know about electricity efficient devices. Discover what energy low energy appliances are, how they work, 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 Valor Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of reduced energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing a filament bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires employing less energy by requiring a different result. Eg choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy efficient appliances are designed to offer equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Lower energy requirements result in lower utility bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many devices available in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which advertise how efficient they are compared to other similar devices.

These simple labels can be a handy first point of call when determining if a device is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Appliances

Some examples of low energy household appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Dehumidifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Efficient Appliances work

Electricity efficient appliances work by utilizing the best current technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might be superior insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.

Advantages of Electricity Efficient Devices

Choosing energy conserving appliances makes sense for a number of reasons:

Reducing energy. The more efficient a device is the less power it needs . Meaning you can experience a sizable saving in energy without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although more efficient devices might have a more expensive ticket price they will inevitably save you money over time by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our abuse of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With resource costs continually increasing and natural resources always being used up choosing more efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Electricity Saving Devices Actually Save Money?

Low energy devices save you money by reducing your power usage and in turn your utility bills.

How much you save and whether or not you notice a big difference in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the existing and replacement appliances, the intensity 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 requires to run the more significant the possible savings. For example substituting an old, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a marked difference whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is only 10% more efficient will have a significantly smaller impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was made in the 1990’s you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was built in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less significant.

You also have to make certain you use your appliances efficiency functions to get the most significant reductions. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When comparing new household appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the prime decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Household Appliances Help the Planet

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

Our actions have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the use of non-renewable resources that are likely to be responsible for air quality degradation and global warming.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily actions the market is reacting with more environmentally friendly solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Devices?

The ENERGY STAR mark was created in 1992 to provide an quickly recognizable way for consumers to opt-for more efficient household appliances.

Rated products must meet both power 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 gain the rating, household appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base product in their class.

However, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a freezer that uses 12% less energy and one that is 20% more efficient might get the symbol. Therefore although only looking at products with the rating is a great starting point, it is still worth looking into the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for Your Home?

Electricity saving devices really do make a difference on an individual and national level, meaning more money in your pocket and better use of energy and resources.

Next time you are shopping for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. It tells you the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it simpler to contrast makes and models.

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

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one big fridge requires less energy than running two little ones. Unless you only turn on the second one during the holidays
When buying a replacement washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine multiple times uses more energy than running a higher capacity machine for a single run.
Even the most efficient boiler will not save you money if it’s two times the spec you need for your home.

Appliances reduce in efficiency as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that use the most energy.