Many household appliances look very comparable from the outside but they can vary completely when it comes to energy economy and therefore operating expenditure.
In this article you can discover everything you need to know about energy conserving household appliances. Discover what energy electricity saving household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Next Noblesville Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is using decreased energy to gain the same outcome. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.
Energy efficiency is related to but not the same as energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by requiring a different result. For example, opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only running the washing machine when you have a full load.
Energy efficient household appliances are designed to provide equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save money. Reduced power usage result in lower utility bills and less use of fossil fuels.
Many devices available in the United States are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are when looked at next to other similar household appliances.
These ratings can be a great first point of call when determining if a device is energy efficient or not.
Types of Electricity Saving Devices
Some different types of energy efficient household appliances include:
- Refrigerators
- Air Purifiers
- Boilers
- Washing Machines
- Tumble Dryers
How Low Energy Household Appliances work
Energy conserving household appliances work by utilizing the best current technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might look like better insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.
Reasons to Choose Energy Conserving Appliances
Using electricity saving devices is a good idea for many reasons:
- Saving energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less power it needs to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can see a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
- Saving money. Although lower energy appliances may have a higher initial cost they will inevitably save you money over time by reducing your utility bills.
- Environmental benefits. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our wastefulness of natural resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Energy Security. With resource costs constantly increasing and natural resources continually depleting choosing energy-efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.
Do Low Energy Devices Genuinely Cost Less?
Energy efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and in turn your electricity bills.
How much you save and whether or not you see a substantial difference in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the old and replacement devices, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.
The older the device you are upgrading is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy it uses to run the more significant the likely savings. I.e replacing an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your space, will make a noticeable difference whereas replacing your fridge with one that is merely 10% more efficient is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.
Research suggests that if your fridge was produced in the 1990’s you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the savings will be much lower.
You also have to make sure you use your household appliances energy-efficient functions to get the most significant savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.
When examining new devices factoring in both the upfront price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the prime choice for you.
How Electricity Efficient Appliances Help the Planet
Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about reducing your bills. Minimizing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.
The things we do have big impacts on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels that are likely to be responsible for air pollution and climate change.
As the general population become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily choices the market is replying with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy air conditioners.
What are ENERGY STAR marked Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to ensure an easily understandable way for buyers to decide upon more eco-friendly appliances.
Certified products must meet both energy consumption and consumer requirements in regards to fulfillment and attributes.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to be awarded the ENERGY STAR, appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their class.
However, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that is 10% more efficient and one that uses 20% less energy could get the certification. Therefore although looking out for the star is a good place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before picking the best one for you.
Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?
Low energy household appliances really do make a impression at a local and global level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.
When you are looking for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward 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:
- Running one large fridge is more efficient than having two smaller ones. Unless you only use the spare one at certain times of the year
- When choosing a new washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a smaller machine two times uses more energy than turning on a higher capacity machine once.
- Even the lowest energy water heater will never save you money if it’s four times the capacity you require for your home.
Appliances get less efficient as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that use the most energy.