Most appliances look very comparable externally but they can vary all together when it comes to energy saving and consequently operating expenditure.
In this article you can understand everything you need to know about energy efficient devices. Learn more about what energy electricity saving household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Spokane Valley Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is employing decreased energy to give the same results. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your roof so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which involves employing less energy by requiring a different result. Eg choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or only using the dishwasher when you have a full load.
Low energy household appliances are engineered to give equivalent results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Less power usage result in lower electricity bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Many appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are when looked at next to other comparable appliances.
These ratings can be a good place to start when determining if a device is electricity saving or not.
Types of Electricity Efficient Household Appliances
Some examples of electricity efficient devices include:
- Fridge-Freezers
- Air Purifiers
- Water Heaters
- Washing Machines
- Dishwashers
How Electricity Saving Household Appliances work
Energy efficient household appliances work by applying the best current technology to maximize efficiency. That might mean superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.
Reasons to Choose Electricity Saving Appliances
Using energy efficient household appliances makes sense for multiple reasons:
- Saving energy. The less energy intensive an appliance is the less energy it requires to complete its purpose. Meaning you can see a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
- Saving money. Although lower energy household appliances are likely to have a more expensive initial cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by cutting your energy bills.
- Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our wastefulness of fossil fuels also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Fuel Security. With energy costs consistently going up and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient devices will allow our demands to be met for longer.
Do Energy Efficient Household Appliances Really Reduce Bills?
Electricity efficient appliances save you money by reducing your energy usage and by association your electricity bills.
The amount you save and whether or not you see a big difference in your household bills will depend on the difference between the previous and replacement household appliances, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.
The older the appliance you are changing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy it uses to run the bigger the possible savings. I.e substituting an worn out, wasteful, too big air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your space, could make a notable difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is just 10% more efficient will have a much less noticeable impact.
Reports suggest that if your fridge was made last century you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in within the last decade the money you save will be much lower.
You also have to ensure you understand your household appliances energy saving 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 comparing new appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will make sure you make the prime choice for you.
How Energy Efficient Devices Help the Planet
Saving energy isn’t just about saving you money. Reducing energy usage also has an environmental impact.
The things we do have big effects on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the consumption of oil and gas that have been linked to air pollution and climate change.
As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is replying with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy washing machines.
What are ENERGY STAR marked Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to provide an readily detectable way for consumers to choose more efficient devices.
Rated appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and features.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to have the rating, devices must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base design in their class.
However, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a fridge that uses 12% less energy and one that is 22% more efficient could get the symbol. Therefore although looking out for the rating is a good starting point, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.
Is an Low Energy Appliance Right for Your Home?
Energy efficient appliances really do make a impact at an individual and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.
When you are in the market for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it simpler to compare makes and styles.
You might also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.
Size matters when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Having one big fridge requires less energy than paying for two little ones. Unless you only need the second one during the holidays
- When choosing a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a space saving machine two times will cost more 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 spec you require for your home.
Devices get less efficient as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.