Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances appear very comparable outwardly but they can vary all together when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result running costs.

Here you will learn everything you need to know about electricity efficient household appliances. Discover what energy energy conserving 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 EZ Boise Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is employing reduced energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which involves using less energy by requiring a different result. Eg choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only putting on the washing machine when you have a full load.

Low energy household appliances are designed to offer equivalent results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity usage result in lower utility bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many household appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to standard models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances have EnergyGuide labels which display how economical they are compared to other similar household appliances.

These simple labels can be a good place to start when figuring out if a device is electricity saving or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Appliances

Some different types of electricity saving appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Low Energy Appliances work

Low energy devices work by employing the most up to date techniques to ensure they use as little electric as possible. That might be more advanced insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.

Benefits of Low Energy Devices

Choosing energy efficient appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The more economical a device is the less resources it uses . Meaning you can gain a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although more efficient devices may have a more expensive up-front cost they will generally save you money over time by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future generations.
Resource Security. With fuel prices constantly rising and natural resources constantly depleting choosing more efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Electricity Efficient Devices Really Cost Less?

Electricity efficient devices save you money by reducing your electricity usage and therefore your electricity bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a substantial difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and new devices, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the appliance requires to run the more significant the likely savings. For example replacing an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your home, could make a notable difference whereas replacing your fridge with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly less noticeable impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was produced last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.

You also have to make certain you use your devices efficiency settings to get the most significant 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 ticket price and the running costs will ensure you make the prime decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Devices Help the Planet

Saving energy isn’t just about cutting costs. Minimizing energy requirements also has an environmental impact.

Our actions have massive effects on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the burning of fossil fuels that appear to be correlated to air quality degradation and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily choices the market is responding with more eco-friendly solutions to our problems. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to allow for an easily detectable way for consumers to choose more efficient devices.

Certified appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer requirements in regards to performance and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the rating, devices must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base model in their class.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are equal in terms of efficiency. For example a fridge that is 12% more efficient and one that is 20% more efficient might get the certification. Thus although looking out for the star is a great starting point, it is still worth checking the actual energy usage before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Electricity efficient devices really do make a impact at a local and national level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

If you are looking for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It shows the amount of energy an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to decide between makes and styles.

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

Size makes a difference when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one large fridge is more efficient than running two small ones. Unless you only use the second one during the holidays
When purchasing a new washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a space saving machine twice is less efficient than running a higher capacity machine once.
Even the lowest energy boiler will not save you money if it’s three times the spec you need for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that use the most energy.