Energy Efficient Appliances

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

Here you can learn all you need to know about low energy household appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity efficient appliances are, how they work, the benefits of paying that little bit extra and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Pearson’s Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is making use of decreased energy to give the same results. For example, replacing a standard bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your roof 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 adjusting behaviors or habits. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or only using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving household appliances are designed to give equivalent results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Less electricity usage result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less electricity than standard models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are compared to other similar appliances.

These simple labels can be a good place to start when determining if an appliance is energy efficient or not.

Types of Low Energy Appliances

Some different types of energy conserving household appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Electricity Saving Devices work

Low energy appliances work by applying the best current techniques to make sure they waste as little electric as possible. That might look like better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Conserving Appliances

Switching to energy conserving appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Reducing energy. The more economical an appliance is the less resources it uses . Meaning you can see a sizable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although lower energy household appliances are likely to have a more expensive initial cost they will inevitably save you money over time by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Fuel Security. With energy prices constantly rising and natural resources always depleting choosing energy-efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Low Energy Household Appliances Really Reduce Bills?

Energy efficient devices save you money by reducing your energy usage and in turn your energy bills.

How much you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable difference in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and new household appliances, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance 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 potential savings. For example replacing an old, wasteful, too big air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the correct size for your home, will make a marked impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is only 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in the last 10 years the savings will be much less.

You also have to make certain you make use of your household appliances energy-efficient settings to get the best reductions. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When examining new household appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will help you make the top decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Planet

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

Human actions have irreversible impacts on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the consumption of non-renewable resources that are likely to be responsible for air quality decline and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is replying with more energy efficient solutions to our requirements. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was formed in 1992 to allow for an easily recognizable way for people to opt-for more eco-friendly devices.

Rated appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the ENERGY STAR, appliances are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard model in their class.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 15% less energy and one that is 22% more efficient would get the certification. Therefore although only looking at products with the star is a simple starting point, it is still worth checking the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for You?

Electricity efficient appliances really do make a impact at an individual and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.

Next time you are shopping for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the amount of energy an appliance uses and makes it easier to contrast brands and designs.

You’ll also want to know how much your energy costs you so you can make better comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Having one big fridge requires less energy than having two small ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one occasionally
When choosing a new washing machine think about the amount of washing you tend to do as running a lower capacity machine multiple times is less efficient than running a higher capacity machine once.
Even the lowest energy boiler will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s four times the spec you need for your home.

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