Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances appear very comparable from the outside but they can vary all together when it comes to energy efficiency and consequently running costs.

Here you will find out everything you need to know about low energy household appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity saving appliances are, how they operate, the advantages of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Speedy Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is making use of reduced energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your roof so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but not the same as energy conservation which involves using less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. For example, opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or only putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity saving appliances are created to provide the same results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Less energy requirements result in lower electricity bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many household appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less power than standard models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how economical they are when looked at next to other equal capacity devices.

These ratings can be a good starting point when deciding if a device is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Some different types of energy efficient appliances include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances work

Electricity efficient household appliances work by employing the best current techniques to maximize efficiency. That might look like superior insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.

Advantages of Electricity Efficient Goods

Switching to energy conserving appliances makes sense for multiple reasons:

Saving energy. The more economical a device is the less energy it uses to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can experience a big saving in energy without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although lower energy devices might have a more expensive ticket price they will generally save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our exploitation of non-renewable resources also preserves them for future generations.
Energy Security. With fuel prices continually going up and natural resources continually depleting choosing more efficient household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Low Energy Appliances Really Save Money?

Electricity efficient appliances save you money by reducing your power usage and by association your electricity bills.

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

The older the device you are replacing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the appliance uses to run the more significant the likely savings. For example substituting an old, wasteful, too big air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your home, could make a marked difference whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is just 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was made over 20 years ago you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in the last 10 years the savings will be much less significant.

You also have to make sure you use your household appliances energy-efficient 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 contrasting new household appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will ensure you make the top choice for you.

How Energy Conserving Appliances Help the Planet

Reducing energy consumption isn’t only about cutting costs. Minimizing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have irreversible effects on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the consumption of oil and gas that appear to be linked to air pollution and global warming.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Devices?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was created in 1992 to ensure an readily detectable way for people to decide upon more eco-friendly devices.

Rated products must meet both energy consumption and consumer requirements in regards to quality and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the star mark, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base product in their grouping.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a washing machine that is 12% more efficient and one that uses 22% less energy might get the certification. Therefore although only looking at products with the symbol is a great first step, it is still worth checking the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Saving Appliance Right for You?

Energy efficient appliances really do make a difference at an individual and national level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

When you are in the market for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. It tells you the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to compare makes and styles.

You may also want to make a note of how much your electricity costs you so you can make better comparisons.

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

Having one big fridge requires less energy than running two smaller ones. Unless you only use the second one occasionally
When purchasing a new washing machine think about the load size as running a space saving machine two times will cost more than using a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the most efficient water heater will never save you money if it’s four times the spec you should be using for your home.

Appliances reduce in efficiency as they age so replace over 10 years old first and if you have the funds available, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.