Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances look very similar on the face of it but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and consequently operating costs.

Here you will learn all you need to know about energy conserving devices. Learn more about what energy energy conserving appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Champion Deltona Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing a traditional light bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your roof 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 requiring a different result. For example, opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Low energy devices are made to offer equivalent results in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Less energy usage result in lower utility bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many devices for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to standard models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are when looked at next to other comparable devices.

These simple labels can be a great starting point when determining if a device is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Household Appliances

Some examples of electricity efficient appliances include:

Refrigerators
Dehumidifiers
Boilers
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Low energy household appliances work by employing the latest technology to make sure they use as little power as possible. That might look like more advanced insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Efficient Goods

Switching to low energy devices makes sense for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less energy it needs to undertake its task. Meaning you can gain a big reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although more efficient devices are likely to have a more expensive up-front cost they will inevitably save you money over time by cutting your utility bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from non-renewable resources and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our abuse of natural resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With energy prices constantly going up and natural resources always being used up choosing energy-efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Efficient Appliances Really Save Money?

Energy conserving devices save you money by reducing your energy consumption and by association your energy bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a substantial difference in your household bills will depend on the difference between the old and future devices, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy the appliance requires to run the greater the potential savings. I.e substituting an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your home, will make a marked difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is just 10% more efficient is likely to have a much smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less.

You also have to make certain you use your household appliances efficiency functions to get the best reductions. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When examining new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will help you make the top choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances Help the Environment

Energy efficiency isn’t all about reducing your bills. Reducing energy requirements 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 burning of non-renewable resources that have been correlated to air pollution and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily decisions the market is reacting with more environmentally friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to allow for an easily recognizable way for buyers to choose more eco-friendly appliances.

Rated appliances must meet both power performance and consumer needs in regards to performance and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the rating, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard model in their grouping.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a fridge that uses 12% less energy and one that is 18% more efficient would get the certification. So although looking out for the rating is a simple place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Low energy appliances really do make a difference at a local and global level, reducing your bills and better use of energy and resources.

When you are looking for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it simpler to decide between makes and designs.

You may also want to make a note of how much your energy costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one big fridge requires less energy than having two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one during the holidays
When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a space saving machine twice uses more energy than using a higher capacity machine once.
Even the best boiler will be unable to save you money 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 have the funds available, focus on the items that use the most energy.