Energy Efficient Appliances

Many devices look very similar on the face of it but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and therefore operating costs.

Here you can learn everything you need to know about electricity efficient appliances. Learn more about what energy energy conserving household appliances are, how they operate, the advantages 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 Elite El Monte Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing a traditional light bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires employing less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. Eg opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Low energy household appliances are made to offer equivalent results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Lower energy requirements result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices display EnergyGuide labels which show how efficient they are in comparison to other similar household appliances.

These ratings can be a great starting point when determining if an appliance is electricity saving or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Devices

Some examples of electricity saving devices include:

  • Fridges
  • Air Purifiers
  • Boilers
  • Washers
  • Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances work

Electricity saving devices work by utilizing the best current technology to maximize efficiency. That might be better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Choose Electricity Saving Devices

Choosing low energy devices makes sense for a number of reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The more economical an appliance is the less energy it requires . Meaning you can see a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
  2. Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient household appliances may have a bigger initial cost they will inevitably save you money over time by cutting your utility bills.
  3. Environmental benefits. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our wastefulness of natural resources also conserves them for future generations.
  4. Fuel Security. With fuel prices continually going up and natural resources always depleting choosing energy-efficient household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Low Energy Devices Genuinely Save Money?

Electricity efficient appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and in turn your electricity bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you notice a big fall in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement household appliances, the amount they get used and how long the product lasts.

The older the device you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy it requires to run the bigger the likely savings. I.e substituting an broken, inefficient, oversized air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the perfect size for your space, could make a noticeable difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a markedly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made in the 1990’s you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in within the last decade the money you save will be much lower.

You also have to make certain you use your devices energy saving functions to get the greatest reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When contrasting new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will help you make the prime choice for you.

How Energy Conserving Appliances Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t all about cutting costs. Cutting energy consumption also has an environmental impact.

Our actions have irreversible effects on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the burning of non-renewable resources that can be responsible for air quality degradation and global warming.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions the market is responding with more eco-friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to allow for an quickly recognizable way for people to decide upon more eco-friendly household appliances.

Certified products must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification vary between different appliances. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, appliances must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a freezer that uses 12% less energy and one that is 18% more efficient would get the symbol. So although only looking at products with the symbol is a great first step, it is still worth checking the actual energy savings before making your final choice.

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

Energy efficient appliances really do make a difference on an individual and international level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

If you are in the market for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to compare brands and designs.

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

Size makes a difference when it comes to home appliances. For example:

  • Paying for one bigger fridge requires less energy than paying for two little ones. Unless you only need the second one at certain times of the year
  • When buying a new washing machine consider the load size as running a smaller machine multiple times is less efficient than turning on a higher capacity machine once.
  • Even the lowest energy boiler will be unable to save you money if it’s two times the capacity you should be using for your home.

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 use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances

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