Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances look very similar externally but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and as a result running costs.

In this article you will learn all you need to know about energy conserving devices. 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 Metro Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is using less energy to perform the same function. 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 different from energy conservation which involves using less energy by changing the outcome. Eg opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or just running the washing machine when you have a full load.

Low energy devices are created to give the same results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Reduced power requirements result in lower utility bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices available in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less energy than standard models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are in comparison to other equal capacity devices.

These simple labels can be a great starting point when deciding if a device is electricity efficient or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Devices

Some different types of electricity efficient devices include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Boilers
Washers
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Energy conserving household appliances work by employing the most up to date techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might be superior insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Choose Electricity Efficient Goods

Using energy conserving devices is a good idea for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The more economical a device is the less energy it uses to undertake its task. Meaning you can gain a dramatic saving in energy without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although more efficient appliances may have a bigger initial cost they will usually save you money over time by cutting your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we need for our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With resource prices constantly rising and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Energy Efficient Devices Really Reduce Bills?

Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and in turn your utility bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you notice a substantial reduction in your household bills will depend on the difference between the old and future devices, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are replacing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the device needs to run the greater the possible savings. For example replacing an old, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your home, could make a marked impact whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is just 10% less energy intensive will have a significantly less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less significant.

You also have to ensure you make use of your devices efficiency settings to get the most significant reductions. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When comparing new devices factoring in both the upfront price and the ongoing costs will help you make the top decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Household Appliances Help the Environment

Energy efficiency isn’t only about reducing your bills. Minimizing energy requirements also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have big effects on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the use of non-renewable resources that are likely to be correlated to air pollution and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily actions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR rating Devices?

The ENERGY STAR rating was formed in 1992 to provide an quickly understandable way for buyers to decide upon more efficient household appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both power consumption and consumer expectations in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the rating, appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base model in their grouping.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a fridge that is 10% more efficient and one that is 20% more efficient could get the rating. So although making sure you see the symbol is a simple first step, it is still worth looking into the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

Electricity efficient devices really do make a difference at a local and global level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.

Next time you are in the market for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the cost of electricity an appliance gets through and makes it simpler to decide between brands and styles.

You’ll also want to know how much your energy costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

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

Having one bigger fridge requires less energy than running two small ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one occasionally
When buying a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a lower capacity machine twice is less efficient than running a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the lowest energy boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s four times the capacity you require for your home.

Household appliances get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace older items first and if you can, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.