Energy Efficient Appliances

Many devices look very similar outwardly but they can vary all together when it comes to energy efficiency and consequently operating expenditure.

In this article you will learn all you need to know about electricity efficient household appliances. Learn more about what energy energy conserving household appliances are, how they work, the benefits of making the switch and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Triumph Appliance Repair of Troy.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of decreased energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing a traditional bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which involves using less energy by requiring a different result. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving appliances are made to provide equivalent outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Reduced energy requirements result in lower utility bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less power than lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which display how economical they are in comparison to other comparable appliances.

These ratings can be a great starting point when determining if an appliance is low energy or not.

Types of Energy Conserving Household Appliances

Some examples of low energy household appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washers
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Low energy devices work by utilizing the latest technology to make sure they waste as little electric as they can. That might mean better insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Choose Energy Efficient Goods

Switching to energy efficient household appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less resources it needs to complete its task. Meaning you can experience a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although lower energy devices might have a bigger initial cost they will generally save you money in the long run by cutting your utility bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With resource costs consistently rising and natural resources always being used up choosing more efficient appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Energy Conserving Household Appliances Really Cost Less?

Energy conserving household appliances save you money by reducing your power usage and in turn your energy bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you see a noticeable difference in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the existing and new devices, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are upgrading is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the device uses to run the more significant the potential savings. I.e substituting an broken, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a marked impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is just 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in within the last decade the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you make use of your appliances energy saving settings to get the greatest savings. 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 help you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances Help the Planet

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

Human actions have big impacts on the planet, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the use of fossil fuels that appear to be linked to air quality decline and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was formed in 1992 to allow for an quickly recognizable way for buyers to opt-for more sustainable appliances.

Certified products must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to performance and features.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the star mark, devices must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the standard product in their grouping.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified appliances are equal in terms of efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 15% less energy and one that is 20% more efficient would get the symbol. Thus although making sure you see the star is a simple starting point, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for You?

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

When you are in the market for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to compare makes and styles.

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

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one full size fridge requires less energy than having two small ones. Unless you only need the extra one occasionally
When choosing a new washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine multiple times uses more energy than running a higher capacity machine for a single run.
Even the most efficient water heater will not reduce your bills if it’s four times the size you need for your home.

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