The majority of appliances appear very comparable outwardly but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and as a result running expenditure.
Here you will learn everything you need to know about electricity saving devices. Discover what energy low energy appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of using them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Gold Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?
In simple terms energy efficiency is employing lower energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which involves using less energy by changing the outcome. For example, opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just running the washing machine when you have a full load.
Low energy appliances are created to give the same outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Less electricity requirements result in lower energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Many appliances available in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less energy than lower efficiency models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other comparable appliances.
These simple labels can be a great first point of call when determining if an appliance is low energy or not.
Types of Energy Conserving Devices
Some examples of electricity saving devices include:
- Fridges
- Dehumidifiers
- Water Heaters
- Washers
- Tumble Dryers
How Energy Conserving Household Appliances work
Electricity efficient household appliances work by taking advantage of the latest techniques to maximize efficiency. That might look like more advanced insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.
Advantages of Energy Conserving Goods
Using energy conserving devices makes sense for multiple reasons:
- Saving energy. The more efficient an appliance is the less energy it uses to undertake its task. Meaning you can see a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
- Saving money. Although more efficient devices may have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we need for our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our abuse of non-renewable resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Fuel Security. With energy costs consistently rising and natural resources continually being used up choosing energy-efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.
Do Electricity Efficient Appliances Genuinely Save Money?
Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and in turn your electricity bills.
The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial reduction in your monthly bills will depend on the difference between the old and new appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.
The older the appliance you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the device requires to run the more significant the likely savings. I.e replacing an old, wasteful, too big air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your home, will make a marked impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is just 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.
Research suggests that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the savings will be much less significant.
You also have to make certain you make use of your appliances energy saving functions to get the greatest savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.
When comparing new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the top choice for you.
How Low Energy Household Appliances Help the Environment
Reducing energy consumption isn’t just about cutting costs. Minimizing energy consumption also has an environmental impact.
Our actions have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the burning of oil and gas that are likely to be correlated to air pollution and climate change.
As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily actions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.
What are ENERGY STAR marked Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR rating was created in 1992 to allow for an readily recognizable way for consumers to decide upon more eco-friendly appliances.
Certified products must meet both power performance and consumer requirements in regards to performance and features.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to have the rating, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base model in their category.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified appliances are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a washing machine that is 10% more efficient and one that uses 22% less energy could get the rating. So although looking out for the rating is a good first step, it is still worth checking the actual figures before picking the best one for you.
Is an Electricity Saving Appliance Right for Your Home?
Electricity saving household appliances really do make a difference at a local and international level, reducing your bills and better use of energy and resources.
When you are looking for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it easier to decide between brands and styles.
You may also want to know how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:
- Running one big fridge requires less energy than having two little ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one during the holidays
- When choosing a new washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine two times is less efficient than turning on a bigger machine once.
- Even the most efficient water heater will never save you money if it’s two times the spec you should be using for your home.
Appliances use more energy as they deteriorate so replace older items first and if you are able to, focus on the items that use the most energy.