The majority of devices appear very similar on the face of it but they can vary completely when it comes to energy saving and consequently running costs.
Here you will find out all you need to know about electricity saving appliances. Discover what energy electricity efficient appliances are, how they operate, the benefits of making the switch and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Chico Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?
In simple terms energy efficiency is making use of decreased energy to gain the same outcome. For example, replacing a standard light bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is related to but not the same as energy conservation which requires using less energy by requiring a different result. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only running the washing machine when you have a full load.
Electricity efficient household appliances are engineered to provide equivalent outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Less power usage result in lower energy bills and less environmental impact.
Many devices for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less energy than lower rated models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances have EnergyGuide labels which advertize how efficient they are compared to other comparable household appliances.
These simple labels can be a great starting point when deciding if an appliance is energy conserving or not.
Types of Electricity Saving Appliances
Some different types of electricity efficient devices include:
- Fridges
- Air Purifiers
- Boilers
- Washers
- Tumble Dryers
How Electricity Saving Household Appliances work
Electricity saving devices work by utilizing the best current techniques to make sure they waste as little power as they can. That might be better insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to minimize drying time.
Reasons to Choose Low Energy Goods
Choosing energy efficient household appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:
- Saving energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less power it requires to undertake its task. Meaning you can see a dramatic saving in energy without having to change your habits.
- Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient devices are likely to have a bigger up-front cost they will generally save you money over time by reducing your utility bills.
- Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our exploitation of natural resources also preserves them for future generations.
- Resource Security. With fuel prices continually going up and natural resources always being used up choosing more efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.
Do Energy Efficient Devices Genuinely Reduce Bills?
Electricity efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your energy usage and in turn your electricity bills.
How much you save and whether or not you see a substantial reduction in your household bills will depend on the difference between the old and new household appliances, the degree of use and the lifespan of the product.
The older the good you are upgrading is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the appliance needs to run the greater the likely savings. For example substituting an worn out, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the perfect size for your home, will make a marked difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is just 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.
Studies suggest that if your fridge was made last century you could 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 ensure you use your appliances energy saving functions to get the best savings. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.
When comparing new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will make sure you make the best choice for you.
How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Planet
Saving energy isn’t only about reducing your bills. Cutting energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.
Human actions have massive effects on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the use of oil and gas that are likely to be responsible for air quality degradation and climate change.
As we become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy air conditioners.
What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR symbol was created in 1992 to allow for an readily recognizable way for consumers to decide upon more sustainable appliances.
Rated appliances must meet both power performance and consumer requirements in regards to performance and attributes.
The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to have the star mark, devices must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base model in their category.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are equal in terms of efficiency. For example a freezer that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy would get the rating. Therefore although only looking at products with the rating is a good starting point, it is still worth looking into the actual figures before picking the best one for you.
Is an Low Energy Appliance Right for Your Home?
Energy efficient household appliances really do make a impression at an individual and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and better use of energy and resources.
If you are shopping for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it easier to compare makes and models.
You might also want to make a note of how much your electricity costs you so you can make better comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Running one bigger fridge requires less energy than paying for two small ones. Unless you only turn on the extra one occasionally
- When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a space saving machine twice uses more energy than running a bigger machine for a single run.
- Even the lowest energy boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s two times the spec you need for your home.
Appliances reduce in efficiency as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.