Energy Efficient Appliances

Most appliances look very comparable outwardly but they can vary completely when it comes to energy efficiency and consequently operating costs.

Here you can discover all you need to know about energy conserving appliances. Discover what energy efficient devices are, what makes them different, the benefits of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Morris Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is using less energy to give the same results. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your roof so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. For example, choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity saving appliances are made to provide equivalent results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Reduced power usage result in lower energy bills and less environmental impact.

Many devices currently manufactured in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less power than standard models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are when looked at next to other equal capacity devices.

These ratings can be a handy first point of call when determining if a device is energy conserving or not.

Types of Low Energy Devices

Some examples of energy conserving devices include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Boilers
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Electricity saving devices work by utilizing the most up to date techniques to ensure they use as little energy as they can. That might look like better insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Energy Conserving Appliances

Choosing low energy devices is a good idea for many reasons:

Saving energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less power it requires . Meaning you can see a noticeable saving in energy without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient household appliances are likely to have a higher ticket price they will generally save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our exploitation of natural resources also keeps them for future generations.
Resource Security. With fuel costs consistently rising and natural resources always being used up choosing more efficient appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Energy Efficient Appliances Really Save Money?

Electricity efficient devices save you money by reducing your electricity usage and in turn your energy bills.

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial reduction in your monthly bills will depend on the difference between the old and future devices, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the good you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy it requires to run the greater the likely savings. For example replacing an old, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the perfect size for your space, will make a notable impact whereas uprating your fridge with one that is just 10% more efficient will have a much less noticeable impact.

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

You also have to make sure you use your household appliances energy-efficient settings to get the most significant reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When comparing new household appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will make sure you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances Help the Environment

Energy efficiency isn’t just about reducing your bills. Reducing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have massive effects on the environment, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the use of oil and gas that are likely to be correlated to air pollution and climate change.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily choices the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to ensure an easily detectable way for buyers to decide upon more efficient household appliances.

Certified products must meet both power consumption and consumer requirements in regards to quality and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to have the star mark, appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base design in their category.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that is 12% more efficient and one that uses 18% less energy would get the symbol. Therefore although only looking at products with the star is a great first step, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for You?

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

Next time you are shopping for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it simpler to compare brands and models.

You’ll also want to check how much your energy costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.

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

Paying for one bigger fridge requires less energy than having two smaller ones. Unless you only need the second one occasionally
When choosing a new washing machine think about the load size as running a smaller machine twice is less efficient than using a bigger machine once.
Even the most efficient boiler will not save you money if it’s four times the spec you need for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they age so replace older items first and if you are able to, focus on the items that use the most energy.