The majority of appliances look very comparable from the outside but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and consequently running expenditure.
Here you will understand all you need to know about electricity efficient household appliances. Learn more about what energy efficient household appliances are, how they operate, the advantages 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 United Appliance Repair.
Basically energy efficiency is using decreased energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.
Energy efficiency is similar to but distinct from energy conservation which involves employing less energy by changing the outcome. Eg choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or only using the dishwasher when you have a full load.
Energy conserving devices are created to provide equivalent results using less energy allowing you to save money. Less power requirements result in lower electricity bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Many appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower efficiency models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are in comparison to other comparable appliances.
These simple labels can be a good place to start when deciding if an appliance is low energy or not.
Some different types of low energy household appliances include:
Energy efficient appliances work by taking advantage of the best current technology to maximize efficiency. That might be more advanced insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.
Using electricity saving appliances is a good idea for many reasons:
Energy conserving household appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and in turn your utility bills.
The amount you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable difference in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and replacement household appliances, the amount they get used 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 needs to run the more significant the likely savings. I.e replacing an old, inefficient, oversized air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the correct size for your home, could make a notable difference whereas uprating your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive will have a markedly smaller impact.
Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced in the 1990’s you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in the last 10 years the savings will be much less significant.
You also have to make certain you understand your appliances energy saving settings to get the most significant reductions. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.
When comparing new appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will ensure you make the best decision for you.
Energy efficiency isn’t only about reducing your bills. Reducing energy consumption also has an environmental impact.
The things we do have massive effects on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the use of oil and gas that appear to be linked to air pollution and global warming.
As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily actions the market is reacting with more eco-friendly solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy air conditioners.
The ENERGY STAR rating was started in 1992 to provide an easily detectable way for consumers to decide upon more efficient appliances.
Rated products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to quality and attributes.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification vary between different appliances. In order to have the star mark, household appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the standard model in their class.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 10% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy might get the rating. Therefore although looking out for the rating is a great starting point, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before making your final choice.
Energy conserving appliances really do make a impression at an individual and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and better use of energy and resources.
If you are in the market for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to decide between makes and designs.
You may also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make accurate comparisons.
Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:
Devices get less efficient as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.
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