Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of appliances appear very similar outwardly but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy efficiency and therefore operating costs.

Here you will discover everything you need to know about electricity saving appliances. Learn more about what energy energy conserving appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of choosing them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Hale Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is making use of less energy to gain the same outcome. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which requires employing less energy by changing the outcome. For example, opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just running the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy conserving household appliances are designed to give the same results in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Reduced electricity requirements result in lower utility bills and less environmental impact.

Many devices available in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which advertize how efficient they are compared to other similar appliances.

These ratings can be a good starting point when figuring out if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Some examples of energy conserving household appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances work

Energy efficient devices work by taking advantage of the most up to date technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might look like more advanced insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.

Advantages of Electricity Saving Appliances

Switching to energy conserving devices makes sense for a number of reasons:

Reducing energy. The more economical an appliance is the less resources it uses . Meaning you can gain a sizable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although lower energy household appliances might have a bigger initial cost they will usually save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our exploitation of fossil fuels also conserves them for future generations.
Energy Security. With fuel prices consistently rising and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient devices is a more sustainable option.

Do Energy Conserving Household Appliances Really Reduce Bills?

Electricity saving appliances save you money by reducing your energy usage and in turn your electricity bills.

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a big difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and future appliances, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are changing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the appliance needs to run the greater the potential savings. For example replacing an old, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the correct size for your home, will make a notable impact whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was made last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was built in within the last decade the savings will be much lower.

You also have to make sure you use your appliances energy-efficient functions to get the most significant 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 upfront price and the usage costs will make sure you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Appliances Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t all about saving you money. Cutting energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have massive effects on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the consumption of fossil fuels that have been linked to air quality decline and global warming.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is replying with more eco-friendly solutions to our problems. Whether that is reusable coffee cups or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was started in 1992 to ensure an easily detectable way for people to decide upon more eco-friendly appliances.

Rated products must meet both energy consumption and consumer expectations in regards to quality and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to gain the rating, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard design in their grouping.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR marked products are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 15% less energy and one that is 20% more efficient would get the symbol. Therefore although looking out for the symbol is a good first step, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Low Energy Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Electricity saving household appliances really do make a impact at a local and national level, reducing your bills and better use of energy and resources.

If you are looking for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of electricity an appliance needs and makes it simpler to compare makes and designs.

You might also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Having one full size fridge requires less energy than having two small ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one during the holidays
When purchasing a new washing machine think about the load size as running a smaller machine two times is less efficient than using a bigger machine once.
Even the best boiler will not save you money if it’s three times the size you require for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the items that use the most energy.