The majority of appliances look very comparable from the outside but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and therefore operating costs.
Here you can learn all you need to know about low energy devices. Learn more about what energy electricity saving appliances are, how they operate, the advantages of choosing them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Avondale Appliance Repair Experts.
What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?
Put simply energy efficiency is making use of less energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing a filament light bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is related to but not the same as energy conservation which involves employing less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. For example, opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just running the dishwasher when you have a full load.
Low energy household appliances are made to offer equivalent results in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity usage result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.
Many appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances have EnergyGuide labels which advertize how efficient they are compared to other comparable devices.
These ratings can be a handy starting point when determining if a device is electricity efficient or not.
Types of Energy Conserving Appliances
Some different types of energy conserving appliances include:
- Fridges
- Air Conditioners
- Boilers
- Washers
- Tumble Dryers
How Electricity Saving Appliances work
Energy conserving household appliances work by applying the latest technology to minimize energy consumption. That might mean more advanced insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to minimize drying time.
Benefits of Electricity Saving Goods
Using energy efficient appliances is a good idea for many reasons:
- Saving energy. The more efficient an appliance is the less energy it requires . Meaning you can see a big saving in energy without losing any productivity.
- Saving money. Although lower energy appliances may have a higher initial cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
- Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Resource Security. With resource prices consistently increasing and natural resources constantly depleting choosing energy-efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.
Do Energy Conserving Household Appliances Genuinely Reduce Bills?
Low energy devices save you money by reducing your power consumption and in turn your energy bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a substantial reduction in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement devices, the degree of use and the lifespan of the product.
The older the appliance you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the device requires to run the bigger the potential savings. I.e replacing an broken, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your space, could make a noticeable difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is merely 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly less noticeable impact.
Reports suggest 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 produced in the last 10 years the savings will be much less.
You also have to make certain you make use of your household appliances efficiency settings to get the best 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 make sure you make the prime decision for you.
How Electricity Saving Household Appliances Help the Planet
Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about reducing your bills. Reducing energy requirements also has an environmental impact.
Human actions have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the use of non-renewable resources that appear to be responsible for air quality degradation and global warming.
As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is reacting with more eco-friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.
What are ENERGY STAR certified Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to ensure an quickly recognizable way for consumers to opt-for more efficient appliances.
Rated appliances must meet both power consumption and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and attributes.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the ENERGY STAR, devices are required to be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base product in their category.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are equal in terms of efficiency. I.e a fridge that is 15% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient could get the certification. Therefore although making sure you see the symbol is a good starting point, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.
Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for You?
Low energy appliances really do make a difference on an individual and national level, reducing your bills and conserving both energy and resources.
Next time you are looking for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. It shows the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it easier to decide between brands and designs.
You may also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make accurate comparisons.
Size makes a difference when it comes to appliances. For example:
- Paying for one large fridge is more efficient than having two smaller ones. Unless you only need the extra one during the holidays
- When choosing a replacement washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a space saving machine multiple times will cost more than turning on a bigger machine once.
- Even the best water heater will never save you money if it’s two times the capacity you should be using for your home.
Devices use more energy as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you have the funds available, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.