Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances appear very similar from the outside but they can vary completely when it comes to energy efficiency and therefore running expenditure.

Here you will understand everything you need to know about electricity saving devices. Learn more about what energy electricity saving household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages 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 Horizon Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your roof so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but different 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 just running the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy conserving household appliances are engineered to provide equivalent results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Lower power usage result in lower energy bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower efficiency models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which display how economical they are compared to other comparable household appliances.

These simple labels can be a great place to start when determining if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Devices

Some examples of energy efficient devices include:

Refrigerators
Air Conditioners
Boilers
Washers
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances work

Electricity efficient devices work by employing the latest technology to ensure they waste as little electric as they can. That might mean superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.

Advantages of Energy Efficient Goods

Using electricity saving appliances makes sense for multiple reasons:

Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less resources it uses to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can gain a big saving in energy without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although more efficient household appliances may have a higher up-front cost they will inevitably save you money over time by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our exploitation of fossil fuels also preserves them for future generations.
Fuel Security. With resource prices continually increasing and natural resources constantly depleting choosing energy-efficient appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Low Energy Appliances Actually Reduce Bills?

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

The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a big difference in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the existing and future appliances, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy it uses to run the greater the likely savings. For example replacing an old, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the perfect size for your space, could make a marked difference whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is just 10% more efficient is likely to have a much smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in within the last decade the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to make sure you use your devices energy saving functions 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 appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will make sure you make the top choice for you.

How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t only about saving you money. Cutting energy usage also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have irreversible effects on the planet, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the use of non-renewable resources that are likely to be responsible for air quality degradation and climate change.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was created in 1992 to ensure an readily recognizable way for consumers to opt-for more efficient household appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both power consumption and consumer requirements in regards to fulfillment and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to gain the rating, household appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base model in their class.

However, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that is 15% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient might get the symbol. Therefore although looking out for the rating is a great place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Electricity efficient appliances really do make a impression on an individual and global level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

Next time you are in the market for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it easier to compare makes and models.

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

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Having one bigger fridge requires less energy than having two smaller ones. Unless you only use the extra one during the holidays
When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine twice is less efficient than running a higher capacity machine once.
Even the most efficient boiler will be unable to save you money if it’s two times the capacity you require for your home.

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