Energy Efficient Appliances

Many devices look very similar outwardly but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and therefore operating costs.

In this article you will understand all you need to know about low energy appliances. Discover what energy electricity saving appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of using them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Ideal Edison Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing less energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing a standard bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but distinct from energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or only putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Low energy devices are designed to offer equivalent outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Less power usage result in lower energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to standard models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other equal capacity devices.

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

Types of Energy Efficient Household Appliances

Some different types of electricity saving appliances include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Air Conditioners
  • Boilers
  • Washers
  • Dishwashers

How Electricity Saving Devices work

Electricity saving devices work by applying the best current technology to maximize efficiency. That might mean more advanced insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Efficient Devices

Using electricity efficient household appliances makes sense for a number of reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The more efficient a device is the less power it needs . Meaning you can gain a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
  2. Saving money. Although energy-efficient appliances might have a more expensive ticket price they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your energy bills.
  3. Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our use of natural resources also preserves them for future generations.
  4. Fuel Security. With resource prices consistently increasing and natural resources continually being used up choosing less energy intensive devices will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Low Energy Household Appliances Genuinely Cost Less?

Electricity efficient appliances save you money by reducing your electricity usage and by association your electricity bills.

How much you save and whether or not you see a big fall in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and replacement household appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the good you are changing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the appliance uses to run the bigger the potential savings. For example substituting an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the exact size for your space, will make a marked impact whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% more efficient is likely to have a much less noticeable impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you make use of your appliances energy-efficient settings 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 household appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the top choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Appliances Help the Planet

Saving energy isn’t all about saving you money. Reducing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

Human actions have massive impacts on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the use of oil and gas that are likely to be responsible for air quality decline and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is reacting with more energy efficient solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?

The ENERGY STAR certification was created in 1992 to allow for an easily recognizable way for people to opt-for more efficient devices.

Rated products must meet both power efficiency and consumer needs in regards to quality and features.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark change according to the device being tested. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, household appliances must be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the standard product in their grouping.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a washing machine that is 12% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient could get the symbol. So although making sure you see the star is a good first step, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before making your final choice.

Is an Low Energy Appliance Right for You?

Energy efficient appliances really do make a impact at an individual and international level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.

If you are shopping for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to decide between brands and designs.

You may also want to make a note of how much your electricity costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

  • Having one large fridge requires less energy than paying for two small ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one at certain times of the year
  • When choosing a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a lower capacity machine two times uses more energy than running a higher capacity machine once.
  • Even the lowest energy boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s three times the spec you should be using for your home.

Devices 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