Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of devices look very similar on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy saving and therefore running costs.

In this article you can find out everything you need to know about low energy devices. Learn more about what energy electricity efficient devices are, what makes them different, the benefits of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Livermore Appliance Repair Pros.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is using less energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient fluorescent 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 not the same as energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient household appliances are engineered to provide the same outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Lower electricity requirements result in lower electricity bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices available in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less power than standard models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which display how economical they are in comparison to other comparable household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy place to start when determining if an appliance is energy efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Household Appliances

Some examples of energy efficient appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washers
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Energy efficient devices work by taking advantage of the latest technology to maximize efficiency. That might look like superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.

Benefits of Energy Conserving Goods

Switching to energy efficient devices makes sense for multiple reasons:

Reducing energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less energy it uses . Meaning you can experience a sizable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient household appliances are likely to have a bigger initial cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our exploitation of fossil fuels also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With energy prices consistently increasing and natural resources constantly being used up choosing energy-efficient household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Low Energy Appliances Genuinely Reduce Bills?

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

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial reduction in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and new appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the good you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy the appliance uses to run the greater the possible savings. I.e replacing an broken, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your home, will make a noticeable difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is just 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was built in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less.

You also have to make certain you understand your devices energy saving settings 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 contrasting new devices factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will help you make the prime choice for you.

How Electricity Efficient Devices Help the Planet

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

Our actions have massive effects on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the consumption of fossil fuels that can be correlated to air pollution and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily actions the market is reacting with more environmentally friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Devices?

The ENERGY STAR mark was created in 1992 to allow for an readily detectable way for people to decide upon more efficient appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer requirements in regards to performance and attributes.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark change according to the device being tested. In order to be awarded the rating, household appliances must be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the standard model in their class.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a fridge that is 12% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient could get the symbol. Therefore although only looking at products with the symbol is a simple first step, it is still worth checking the actual energy usage before making your final choice.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for You?

Energy efficient devices really do make a impression on an individual and national level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.

If you are looking for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This label tells you the cost of energy an appliance gets through and makes it easier to decide between makes and styles.

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

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

Having one bigger fridge is more efficient than having two smaller ones. Unless you only use the spare one occasionally
When purchasing a new washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine twice uses more energy than running a bigger machine once.
Even the best boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s four times the capacity you should be using for your home.

Appliances use more energy as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the items that use the most energy.