Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances look very comparable externally but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and therefore operating costs.

Here you can learn everything you need to know about energy conserving appliances. Learn more about what energy efficient devices are, what makes them different, the benefits of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Five Star Yucaipa Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but different from energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. For example, opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy efficient household appliances are created to provide the same results in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Less power requirements result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many devices for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices display EnergyGuide labels which show how efficient they are in comparison to other similar devices.

These ratings can be a good first point of call when determining if an appliance is energy conserving or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Devices

Some examples of energy efficient appliances include:

  • Fridge-Freezers
  • Air Purifiers
  • Boilers
  • Washing Machines
  • Tumble Dryers

How Energy Efficient Appliances work

Electricity saving appliances work by applying the latest techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might be better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to reduce drying time.

Benefits of Energy Efficient Appliances

Choosing energy efficient devices is a good idea for multiple reasons:

  1. Saving energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less energy it requires . Meaning you can experience a noticeable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
  2. Reducing cost. Although more efficient household appliances might have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money over time by reducing your electricity bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our use of fossil fuels also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
  4. Energy Security. With energy costs consistently going up and natural resources always being used up choosing less energy intensive appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Low Energy Appliances Genuinely Save Money?

Electricity efficient appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and in turn your utility bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a big difference in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and replacement appliances, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the appliance uses to run the bigger the likely savings. For example substituting an old, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the correct size for your space, will make a marked impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is just 10% more efficient will have a markedly smaller impact.

Research suggests 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 produced in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.

You also have to make sure you use your household appliances energy-efficient functions to get the greatest reductions. 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 decision for you.

How Electricity Efficient Appliances Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t only about reducing your bills. Cutting energy usage also has an environmental impact.

Human actions have irreversible impacts on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the burning of non-renewable resources that can be linked to air pollution and climate change.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions the market is replying with more eco-friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Devices?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was formed in 1992 to ensure an readily detectable way for buyers to choose more eco-friendly household appliances.

Rated products must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the rating, devices must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard design in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are equal in terms of efficiency. For example a fridge that uses 12% less energy and one that is 22% more efficient could get the certification. So although only looking at products with the symbol is a simple first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for You?

Low energy household appliances really do make a impression on an individual and international level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

Next time you are looking for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. This shows the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to contrast brands and designs.

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

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

  • Having one bigger fridge requires less energy than paying for two smaller ones. Unless you only need the extra one occasionally
  • When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a lower capacity machine multiple times uses more energy than running a higher capacity machine once.
  • Even the most efficient boiler will never save you money if it’s four times the capacity you should be using for your home.

Appliances use more energy as they age so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the ones that use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances