Most appliances appear very similar externally but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy efficiency and therefore running costs.
Here you can understand all you need to know about low energy appliances. Discover what energy electricity saving household appliances are, what makes them different, 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 First-Class Duluth Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent 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 similar to but distinct from energy conservation which involves using 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 washing machine when you have a full load.
Electricity saving household appliances are designed to offer equivalent results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Less power usage result in lower energy bills and less use of fossil fuels.
Many devices available in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are in comparison to other similar devices.
These simple labels can be a great place to start when determining if a device is energy efficient or not.
Types of Energy Conserving Household Appliances
Some different types of energy efficient devices include:
- Refrigerators
- Air Conditioners
- Boilers
- Washing Machines
- Dishwashers
How Energy Efficient Appliances work
Energy conserving appliances work by applying the latest techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might look like more advanced insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to minimize drying time.
Advantages of Electricity Efficient Goods
Switching to electricity saving devices is a good idea for multiple reasons:
- Reducing energy. The more economical a device is the less energy it needs to complete its task. Meaning you can see a sizable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
- Saving money. Although more efficient household appliances may have a higher ticket price they will generally save you money in the long run by reducing your energy bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our exploitation of non-renewable resources also preserves them for future generations.
- Fuel Security. With resource prices constantly going up and natural resources continually depleting choosing energy-efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.
Do Electricity Saving Household Appliances Really Reduce Bills?
Electricity saving appliances save you money by reducing your power usage and therefore your utility bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a substantial difference in your monthly bills will depend on the difference between the existing and future devices, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.
The older the good you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy the device requires to run the greater the potential savings. I.e replacing an broken, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a notable impact whereas replacing your fridge with one that is only 10% more efficient will have a significantly less noticeable impact.
Studies suggest that if your fridge was produced in the 1990’s 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 less.
You also have to ensure you understand your devices efficiency functions 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 devices factoring in both the purchase price and the usage costs will ensure you make the best choice for you.
How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Planet
Saving energy isn’t only about reducing your bills. Cutting energy usage also has a sustainability impact.
Human actions have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the use of non-renewable resources that are likely to be responsible for air pollution and global warming.
As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy refrigerators.
What are ENERGY STAR rating Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR symbol was formed in 1992 to provide an readily understandable way for consumers to opt-for more sustainable appliances.
Rated appliances must meet both energy performance 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 have the ENERGY STAR, appliances must be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base design in their category.
However, not all ENERGY STAR rated products are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a washing machine that is 10% more efficient and one that uses 18% less energy would get the certification. Therefore although only looking at products with the symbol is a simple place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.
Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for You?
Electricity saving appliances really do make a difference at a local and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and better use of energy and resources.
Next time you are shopping for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of electricity an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to decide between brands and styles.
You may also want to know how much your energy costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:
- Having one full size fridge is more efficient than having two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one during the holidays
- When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a smaller machine multiple times is less efficient than turning on a bigger machine for a single run.
- Even the most efficient water heater will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s three times the size you need for your home.
Devices use more energy as they age so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.