Energy Efficient Appliances

Most devices appear very similar on the face of it but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and as a result running expenditure.

In this article you will discover everything you need to know about energy conserving devices. Discover what energy electricity efficient appliances are, how they operate, the benefits of using them and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Able Reading Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing lower energy to give the same results. For example, replacing a standard light bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which involves employing less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. Eg opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just running the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy efficient devices are engineered to offer the same results using less energy allowing you to save money. Lower electricity requirements result in lower utility bills and less environmental impact.

Many appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less energy than base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are when looked at next to other equal capacity devices.

These ratings can be a handy first point of call when determining if an appliance is electricity saving or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Some examples of low energy devices include:

Fridges
Air Conditioners
Water Heaters
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Electricity efficient household appliances work by employing the most up to date technology to ensure they waste as little power as they can. That might be superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Electricity Efficient Appliances

Switching to low energy household appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The less energy intensive an appliance is the less energy it requires to complete its task. Meaning you can experience a noticeable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient household appliances are likely to have a higher initial cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our wastefulness of fossil fuels also conserves them for future generations.
Energy Security. With fuel costs consistently going up and natural resources constantly being used up choosing energy-efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Low Energy Appliances Genuinely Reduce Bills?

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

The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a big reduction in your household bills will depend on the difference between the existing and future devices, the degree of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the good you are upgrading is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy it uses to run the greater the potential savings. For example substituting an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the exact size for your home, could make a notable impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% more efficient will have a significantly smaller impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, but if it was built in within the last decade the savings will be much less significant.

You also have to ensure you understand 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 contrasting new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the {running costs|ongoing costs|usage costs will help you make the best decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Environment

Energy efficiency isn’t just about reducing your bills. Minimizing energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have massive impacts on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the use of oil and gas that are likely to be correlated to air quality degradation and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions 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 rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to provide an readily recognizable way for consumers to decide upon more sustainable appliances.

Certified products must meet both energy performance and consumer needs in regards to quality and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to have the rating, devices are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base design in their category.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that is 10% more efficient and one that is 18% more efficient would get the certification. So although looking out for the rating is a simple place to start, it is still worth checking the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

Is an Low Energy Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Energy conserving devices really do make a difference at an individual and global level, saving you money over time and better use of energy and resources.

When you are in the market for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it simpler to contrast makes and designs.

You’ll also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make more personalized comparisons.

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one bigger fridge is more efficient than running two little ones. Unless you only use the second one occasionally
When buying a new washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a space saving machine multiple times is less efficient than running a higher capacity machine once.
Even the most efficient water heater will never reduce your bills if it’s four times the spec you need for your home.

Devices get less efficient as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the items that use the most energy.