Energy Efficient Appliances

Many household appliances appear very comparable from the outside but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result running expenditure.

Here you will understand all you need to know about low energy appliances. Learn more about what energy efficient appliances are, how they work, the benefits 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 Griffin Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is using decreased energy to gain the same outcome. For example, replacing a standard light bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but distinct from energy conservation which involves using less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity saving appliances are designed to give the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Less electricity requirements result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many devices for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less power than lower rated models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are when looked at next to other comparable devices.

These simple labels can be a good place to start when deciding if a device is energy conserving or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Some examples of low energy household appliances include:

  • Fridge-Freezers
  • Air Purifiers
  • Water Heaters
  • Washers
  • Dishwashers

How Electricity Saving Devices work

Low energy appliances work by taking advantage of the most up to date techniques to maximize efficiency. That might look like better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.

Reasons to Choose Electricity Saving Devices

Using electricity efficient devices makes sense for many reasons:

  1. Saving energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less power it requires . Meaning you can gain a big saving in energy without having to change your habits.
  2. Reducing cost. Although lower energy devices are likely to have a higher ticket price they will usually save you money over time by cutting your electricity bills.
  3. Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our wastefulness of natural resources also conserves them for future generations.
  4. Fuel Security. With resource prices consistently increasing and natural resources always depleting choosing more efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Energy Conserving Household Appliances Really Save Money?

Energy efficient appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and in turn your electricity bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you notice a substantial fall in your monthly bills will depend on the difference between the previous and replacement household appliances, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy the appliance requires to run the bigger the potential savings. I.e replacing an worn out, wasteful, oversized air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your space, could make a marked impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is only 10% less energy intensive will have a much smaller impact.

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

You also have to ensure you use your appliances efficiency settings to get the best savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When contrasting new devices factoring in both the purchase price and the running costs will ensure you make the top choice for you.

How Electricity Saving Household Appliances Help the Environment

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

Human actions have massive impacts on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the burning of oil and gas that can be correlated to air quality degradation and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily choices the market is replying with more energy efficient solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Devices?

The ENERGY STAR rating was formed in 1992 to allow for an easily recognizable way for people to decide upon more efficient appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both energy performance and consumer requirements in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating change according to the device being tested. In order to have the star mark, household appliances must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base model in their class.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a washing machine that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 20% less energy could get the certification. So although making sure you see the star is a great place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

Electricity efficient devices really do make a impact on an individual and national level, reducing your bills and better use of energy and resources.

Next time you are looking for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it simpler to contrast makes and designs.

You might also want to make a note of how much your electricity costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:

  • Having one large fridge requires less energy than running two small ones. Unless you only need the extra one occasionally
  • When buying a new washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a lower capacity machine two times will cost more than using a bigger machine once.
  • Even the most efficient boiler will not save you money if it’s four times the spec you should be using for your home.

Household appliances use more energy as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the ones that use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances