Many appliances look very comparable on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and consequently operating costs.
Here you will understand everything you need to know about low energy household appliances. Learn more about what energy efficient appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of choosing them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Longmont Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is using decreased energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your home so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is related to but distinct from energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by changing the outcome. Eg choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.
Energy efficient appliances are designed to offer equivalent results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Reduced power requirements result in lower electricity bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Many devices for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which display how economical they are in comparison to other comparable devices.
These ratings can be a handy starting point when deciding if a device is low energy or not.
Types of Energy Efficient Devices
Some examples of electricity saving household appliances include:
- Fridge-Freezers
- Air Conditioners
- Water Heaters
- Washers
- Dishwashers
How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances work
Electricity saving household appliances work by employing the latest techniques to maximize efficiency. That might mean superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.
Reasons to Switch to Energy Conserving Goods
Choosing energy conserving devices makes sense for many reasons:
- Saving energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less resources it needs . Meaning you can see a sizable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
- Saving money. Although lower energy appliances might have a more expensive initial cost they will generally save you money in the long run by cutting your energy bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our exploitation of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future generations.
- Resource Security. With resource prices consistently rising and natural resources always depleting choosing more efficient appliances is a more sustainable option.
Do Electricity Saving Appliances Genuinely Cost Less?
Energy conserving devices save you money by reducing your energy consumption and by association your energy bills.
How much you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable fall in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and replacement devices, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.
The older the good you are upgrading is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy the device needs to run the bigger the potential savings. I.e substituting an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the perfect size for your space, could make a noticeable difference whereas uprating your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.
Research suggests that if your fridge was made last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.
You also have to ensure you use your appliances energy saving settings to get the greatest reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.
When examining new appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the prime decision for you.
How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Help the Planet
Saving energy isn’t all about cutting costs. Reducing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.
Human actions have big effects on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the burning of fossil fuels that are likely to be responsible for air quality degradation and global warming.
As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily choices the market is reacting with more energy efficient solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy washing machines.
What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?
The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to allow for an quickly understandable way for consumers to choose more efficient household appliances.
Rated appliances must meet both power efficiency and consumer expectations in regards to quality and features.
The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to have the rating, household appliances must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard design in their category.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are equal in terms of efficiency. I.e a washing machine that is 12% more efficient and one that uses 22% less energy would get the certification. Therefore although looking out for the symbol is a simple first step, it is still worth checking the actual figures before making your final choice.
Is an Low Energy Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?
Electricity saving household appliances really do make a impression at an individual and international level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.
If you are looking for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it simpler to decide between brands and styles.
You may also want to know how much you spend on your energy so you can make accurate comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Paying for one full size fridge requires less energy than having two small ones. Unless you only turn on the extra one during the holidays
- When purchasing a new washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a space saving machine two times is less efficient than running a bigger machine once.
- Even the lowest energy water heater will be unable to save you money if it’s three times the spec you need for your home.
Devices reduce in efficiency as they deteriorate so replace older items first and if you are able to, focus on the items that use the most energy.