Energy Efficient Appliances

Many household appliances look very comparable outwardly but they can vary completely when it comes to energy saving and consequently operating expenditure.

In this article you will discover everything you need to know about energy efficient appliances. Discover what energy energy conserving household appliances are, how they work, the advantages of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Hi-Tech Miramar Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing less energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your home so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but distinct from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by changing the outcome. Eg choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving devices are designed to offer equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Less energy requirements result in lower energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many devices available in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower efficiency models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other equal capacity devices.

These simple labels can be a handy first point of call when deciding if a device is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Some different types of energy conserving household appliances include:

  • Fridges
  • Air Conditioners
  • Water Heaters
  • Washers
  • Tumble Dryers

How Low Energy Appliances work

Electricity saving household appliances work by applying the most up to date techniques to ensure they waste as little energy as possible. That might be better insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Electricity Saving Devices

Using energy conserving devices makes sense for multiple reasons:

  1. Saving energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less resources it uses . Meaning you can gain a big saving in energy without having to change your habits.
  2. Saving money. Although lower energy appliances are likely to have a higher up-front cost they will usually save you money over time by cutting your utility bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our abuse of fossil fuels also conserves them for future generations.
  4. Fuel Security. With fuel prices constantly increasing and natural resources always being used up choosing energy-efficient household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Energy Conserving Devices Really Reduce Bills?

Electricity efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your power usage and by association your utility bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable reduction in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the old and new devices, the degree of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the good you are changing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy it uses to run the greater the potential savings. For example replacing an broken, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the correct size for your home, will make a notable impact whereas replacing your fridge with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made in the 1990’s you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less.

You also have to ensure you understand your devices energy-efficient settings to get the most significant savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When examining new household appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will make sure you make the best decision for you.

How Energy Conserving Devices Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t only about cutting costs. Cutting energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have irreversible impacts on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the consumption of fossil fuels that can be responsible for air pollution and global warming.

As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily actions the market is replying with more energy efficient solutions to our requirements. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?

The ENERGY STAR certification was created in 1992 to provide an readily detectable way for consumers to decide upon more eco-friendly devices.

Certified appliances must meet both energy performance and consumer expectations in regards to quality and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the star mark, appliances must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base model in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR marked products are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that is 12% more efficient and one that uses 20% less energy could get the certification. So although making sure you see the star is a good first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for You?

Low energy household appliances really do make a difference at an individual and global level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are shopping for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This label tells you the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it simpler to compare makes and styles.

You’ll also want to check how much you spend on your energy so you can make accurate comparisons.

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

  • Running one bigger fridge is more efficient than paying for two little ones. Unless you only use the spare one occasionally
  • When choosing a replacement washing machine think about the load size as running a smaller machine twice is less efficient than running a higher capacity machine once.
  • Even the lowest energy boiler will be unable to save you money if it’s four times the capacity you should be using for your home.

Devices get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances

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