Energy Efficient Appliances

Most devices appear very comparable outwardly but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and consequently running costs.

Here you will learn all you need to know about electricity efficient household appliances. Discover what energy electricity saving household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Express Irvine Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing decreased energy to give the same results. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is related to but distinct from energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by changing the outcome. Eg choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only putting on the washing machine when you have a full load.

Low energy devices are designed to provide equivalent outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Less power requirements result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower rated models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are compared to other similar appliances.

These simple labels can be a good first point of call when deciding if a device is energy conserving or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Devices

Some examples of energy efficient devices include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Air Purifiers
  • Water Heaters
  • Washers
  • Tumble Dryers

How Low Energy Devices work

Electricity saving devices work by employing the latest techniques to maximize efficiency. That might look like more advanced insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Low Energy Devices

Choosing energy efficient household appliances makes sense for many reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less resources it needs . Meaning you can see a noticeable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
  2. Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient appliances may have a higher up-front cost they will generally save you money over time by cutting your utility bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our abuse of natural resources also preserves them for future generations.
  4. Resource Security. With energy costs consistently increasing and natural resources continually depleting choosing energy-efficient appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Energy Conserving Devices Really Reduce Bills?

Electricity efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and by association your energy bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you see a big reduction in your monthly bills will depend on the difference between the previous and future appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the appliance you are upgrading is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy it needs to run the bigger the possible savings. I.e substituting an worn out, wasteful, oversized air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the correct size for your home, could make a noticeable impact whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is only 10% more efficient is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced last century you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in the last 10 years the savings will be much less significant.

You also have to make sure you make use of your 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 comparing new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will ensure you make the prime choice for you.

How Low Energy Devices Help the Environment

Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about cutting costs. Minimizing energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have massive effects on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the consumption of fossil fuels that have been correlated to air pollution and global warming.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily actions the market is replying with more environmentally friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable coffee cups or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?

The ENERGY STAR rating was started in 1992 to ensure an readily understandable way for consumers to decide upon more efficient household appliances.

Rated appliances must meet both power consumption and consumer needs in regards to performance and features.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the rating, devices must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard design in their category.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that is 12% more efficient and one that is 18% more efficient could get the certification. Therefore although making sure you see the rating is a good first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Low Energy Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Electricity efficient appliances really do make a impression on an individual and global level, reducing your bills and conserving both energy and resources.

If you are looking for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This shows the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to decide between makes and designs.

You may also want to check how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:

  • Having one full size fridge is more efficient than having two smaller ones. Unless you only use the second one occasionally
  • When purchasing a new washing machine think about the load size as running a space saving machine two times uses more energy than running a higher capacity machine once.
  • Even the lowest energy water heater will not reduce your bills if it’s two times the capacity you require for your home.

Appliances get less efficient as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the items that use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances