Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances appear very similar outwardly but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy economy and as a result running expenditure.

In this article you will find out all you need to know about low energy devices. Discover what energy low energy devices are, how they operate, the advantages of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Buckner Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is using decreased energy to gain the same outcome. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but distinct from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by requiring a different result. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just running the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy conserving household appliances are created to offer the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Lower power requirements result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to standard models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which display how efficient they are when looked at next to other comparable devices.

These simple labels can be a great place to start when deciding if a device is electricity saving or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Devices

Some different types of energy efficient devices include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Conditioners
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Devices work

Low energy appliances work by utilizing the most up to date technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might mean more advanced insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Energy Conserving Devices

Choosing energy conserving household appliances is a good idea for many reasons:

Saving energy. The less energy intensive an appliance is the less energy it uses to complete its purpose. Meaning you can see a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient household appliances might have a more expensive initial cost they will usually save you money over time by cutting your utility bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we need for our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our use of fossil fuels also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Energy Security. With energy prices constantly rising and natural resources always depleting choosing less energy intensive appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Energy Efficient Household Appliances Really Cost Less?

Energy efficient devices save you money by reducing your power consumption and therefore your electricity bills.

How much you save and whether or not you notice a big fall in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the old and replacement appliances, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are replacing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy the appliance requires to run the greater the possible savings. I.e replacing an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your home, could make a marked impact whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is merely 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made in the 1990’s you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was built in within the last decade the money you save will be much less.

You also have to ensure you use your appliances energy saving functions to get the best savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When examining new household appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will ensure you make the top choice for you.

How Electricity Saving Household Appliances Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t just about cutting costs. Minimizing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

Human actions have big effects on the environment, 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 decline and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is responding with more energy efficient solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was created in 1992 to allow for an quickly recognizable way for people to decide upon more eco-friendly devices.

Certified appliances must meet both power consumption and consumer expectations in regards to fulfillment and features.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark change according to the device being tested. In order to be awarded the star mark, appliances 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 products are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 10% less energy and one that is 20% more efficient could get the certification. Therefore although only looking at products with the star is a good place to start, it is still worth checking the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Energy conserving devices really do make a impression at a local and national level, meaning more money in your pocket and better use of energy and resources.

Next time you are in the market for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It tells you the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it easier to contrast makes and models.

You may also want to know how much your energy costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one large fridge is more efficient than paying for two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one during the holidays
When buying a new washing machine consider the load size as running a lower capacity machine multiple times uses more energy than running a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the lowest energy water heater will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s three times the size you require for your home.

Appliances reduce in efficiency as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the items that use the most energy.