Many household appliances appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy efficiency and consequently operating expenditure.
Here you will learn all you need to know about electricity efficient devices. 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 Delta Des Moines Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?
Put simply energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to give the same results. For example, replacing a filament bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your home so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. For example, opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or just using the washing machine when you have a full load.
Electricity efficient household appliances are created to give the same results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Reduced electricity usage result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.
Many household appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are when looked at next to other comparable household appliances.
These simple labels can be a great place to start when deciding if an appliance is low energy or not.
Types of Energy Conserving Appliances
Some examples of electricity saving appliances include:
- Fridges
- Air Conditioners
- Water Heaters
- Washing Machines
- Dishwashers
How Energy Efficient Appliances work
Electricity efficient household appliances work by applying the latest techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might be superior insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.
Reasons to Choose Low Energy Devices
Switching to electricity efficient appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:
- Reducing energy. The more 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 more efficient appliances are likely to have a higher initial cost they will inevitably save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
- Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we need for our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our abuse of fossil fuels also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Energy Security. With energy costs constantly rising and natural resources constantly depleting choosing energy-efficient appliances is a more sustainable option.
Do Energy Efficient Household Appliances Genuinely Reduce Bills?
Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and therefore your energy bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable fall in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement devices, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.
The older the appliance you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the device requires to run the greater the possible savings. I.e substituting an old, inefficient, too big air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the perfect size for your space, will make a marked impact whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a much smaller impact.
Studies suggest that if your fridge was built last century you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in within the last decade the money you save will be much less.
You also have to ensure you make use of your devices efficiency settings to get the best reductions. 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 upfront price and the ongoing costs will help you make the best decision for you.
How Energy Conserving Appliances Help the Planet
Energy efficiency isn’t just about reducing your bills. Reducing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.
Human actions have irreversible effects on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the consumption of non-renewable resources that have been responsible for air quality decline and climate change.
As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily actions the market is replying with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.
What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR symbol was started in 1992 to provide an easily understandable way for buyers to decide upon more sustainable devices.
Certified appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer expectations in regards to performance and attributes.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to be awarded the star mark, household appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard design in their grouping.
As a result, not all ENERGY STAR certified appliances are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy would get the symbol. Therefore although only looking at products with the symbol is a simple place to start, it is still worth checking the actual figures before picking the best one for you.
Is an Low Energy Appliance Right for Your Home?
Energy conserving household appliances really do make a difference on an individual and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.
When you are looking for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This indicates the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to compare makes and models.
You may also want to know how much your energy costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Having one big fridge requires less energy than having two little ones. Unless you only use the spare one occasionally
- When purchasing a new washing machine think about the load size as running a lower capacity machine twice is less efficient than running a bigger machine once.
- Even the best boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s three times the capacity you should be using for your home.
Devices use more energy as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.