Many appliances appear very similar from the outside but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result running expenditure.
Here you can discover all you need to know about energy conserving household appliances. Discover what energy energy conserving devices are, what makes them different, 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 One-Call Sugar Land Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is making use of less energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.
Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which requires employing less energy by changing the outcome. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just using the washing machine when you have a full load.
Electricity efficient devices are engineered to give the same outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Less electricity requirements result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.
Many devices available in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are compared to other comparable appliances.
These simple labels can be a handy first point of call when deciding if a device is electricity efficient or not.
Types of Low Energy Household Appliances
Some different types of electricity saving household appliances include:
- Fridge-Freezers
- Air Purifiers
- Boilers
- Washing Machines
- Dishwashers
How Electricity Efficient Appliances work
Energy conserving devices work by taking advantage of the best current technology to make sure they waste as little energy as possible. That might look like more advanced insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.
Benefits of Low Energy Goods
Using energy conserving household appliances makes sense for multiple reasons:
- Reducing energy. The more efficient a device is the less resources it needs . Meaning you can gain a sizable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
- Reducing cost. Although lower energy devices may have a higher up-front cost they will generally save you money in the long run by reducing your utility bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our exploitation of natural resources also conserves them for future generations.
- Fuel Security. With resource prices continually going up and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient appliances is a more sustainable option.
Do Energy Efficient Appliances Really Reduce Bills?
Energy conserving devices save you money by reducing your energy consumption and therefore your energy bills.
The amount 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 household appliances, the degree of use and the lifespan of the product.
The older the device you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy the appliance needs to run the bigger the potential savings. I.e substituting an old, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the perfect size for your home, will make a marked difference whereas replacing your fridge with one that is only 10% more efficient will have a much less noticeable impact.
Research suggests that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in within the last decade the financial rewards will be much less significant.
You also have to ensure you use your appliances energy saving settings to get the best reductions. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.
When examining new household appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will make sure you make the top choice for you.
How Energy Efficient Devices Help the Planet
Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about saving you money. Cutting energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.
Human actions have massive effects on the planet, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the use of fossil fuels that appear to be linked to air pollution and climate change.
As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily decisions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy air conditioners.
What are ENERGY STAR certified Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to ensure an easily detectable way for people to choose more efficient devices.
Rated appliances must meet both power performance and consumer requirements in regards to performance and attributes.
The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, devices must be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base product in their class.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a washing machine that uses 10% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy might get the rating. Thus although making sure you see the star is a good place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before making your final choice.
Is an Electricity Saving Appliance Right for Your Home?
Low energy household appliances really do make a impact at an individual and international level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.
Next time you are shopping for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. It shows the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it simpler to decide between makes and models.
You might also want to know how much your energy costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.
Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:
- Paying for one bigger fridge requires less energy than having two smaller ones. Unless you only need the extra one at certain times of the year
- When buying a new washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine two times is less efficient than using a bigger machine once.
- Even the most efficient boiler will not save you money if it’s four times the size you require for your home.
Household appliances use more energy as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.