Most devices appear very comparable externally but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and therefore running expenditure.
Here you can discover all you need to know about electricity saving appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity saving devices are, what makes them different, 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 Lawton Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?
Put simply energy efficiency is making use of 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 illumination or insulating your walls so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which involves using less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the washing machine when you have a full load.
Energy conserving household appliances are created to offer the same results in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Lower power requirements result in lower utility bills and less use of fossil fuels.
Many appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less power than base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances have EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are in comparison to other similar appliances.
These ratings can be a good first point of call when figuring out if an appliance is electricity saving or not.
Types of Electricity Efficient Devices
Some examples of electricity saving household appliances include:
- Fridge-Freezers
- Air Conditioners
- Boilers
- Washers
- Tumble Dryers
How Energy Conserving Devices work
Low energy household appliances work by employing the latest technology to minimize energy consumption. That might be superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to minimize drying time.
Advantages of Electricity Efficient Devices
Using electricity efficient appliances makes sense for multiple reasons:
- Saving energy. The more economical a device is the less power it needs . Meaning you can see a noticeable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
- Saving money. Although lower energy appliances may have a higher ticket price they will usually save you money in the long run by cutting your energy bills.
- Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our exploitation of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future generations.
- Energy Security. With energy costs consistently rising and natural resources always being used up choosing more efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.
Do Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Really Save Money?
Energy conserving household appliances save you money by reducing your power usage and in turn your utility bills.
The amount you save and whether or not you see a big reduction in your monthly bills will depend on the difference between the old and future household appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.
The older the appliance you are changing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy the device uses to run the more significant the possible savings. I.e replacing an worn out, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your space, will make a notable impact whereas replacing your fridge with one that is merely 10% more efficient will have a markedly less noticeable impact.
Research suggests that if your fridge was made last century you could 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 make use of your devices energy-efficient settings to get the greatest savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.
When contrasting new household appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will help you make the prime decision for you.
How Low Energy Devices Help the Environment
Energy efficiency isn’t only about saving you money. Reducing energy requirements also has an environmental impact.
Human actions have big impacts on the planet, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the burning of oil and gas that have been correlated to air pollution and climate change.
As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily actions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy refrigerators.
What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to provide an quickly detectable way for people to opt-for more efficient devices.
Certified appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to performance and attributes.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base product in their class.
However, not all ENERGY STAR rated products are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a washing machine that uses 10% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy could get the rating. So although making sure you see the rating is a great place to start, it is still worth checking the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.
Is an Electricity Saving Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?
Electricity efficient appliances really do make a impact on an individual and international level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.
If you are in the market 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 easier to contrast brands and designs.
You may also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.
Size makes a difference when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Running one bigger fridge requires less energy than having two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one at certain times of the year
- When buying a new washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a space saving machine twice uses more energy than turning on a bigger machine for a single run.
- Even the lowest energy boiler will not save you money if it’s four times the spec you require for your home.
Household appliances get less efficient as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the items that use the most energy.