Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of devices look very similar on the face of it but they can vary completely when it comes to energy saving and consequently running expenditure.

In this article you can find out everything you need to know about electricity saving appliances. Discover what energy efficient appliances are, how they operate, the benefits of using them and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Mason Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is employing less energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is related to but distinct from energy conservation which involves using less energy by changing the outcome. Eg opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Low energy devices are designed to provide equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save money. Less energy usage result in lower utility bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many household appliances currently manufactured in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower rated models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most devices display EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other equal capacity appliances.

These ratings can be a great place to start when determining if a device is electricity saving or not.

Types of Low Energy Household Appliances

Some different types of electricity efficient household appliances include:

  • Fridge-Freezers
  • Air Purifiers
  • Boilers
  • Washing Machines
  • Dishwashers

How Electricity Efficient Appliances Work

Electricity saving appliances work by employing the latest technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might be better insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Choose Low Energy Devices

Switching to electricity efficient household appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less power it requires to complete its purpose. Meaning you can experience a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
  2. Reducing cost. Although more efficient appliances may have a bigger up-front cost they will generally save you money in the long run by reducing your utility bills.
  3. Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our daily lives comes from non-renewable resources and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
  4. Fuel Security. With energy costs consistently going up and natural resources continually depleting choosing more efficient appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Electricity Efficient Devices Genuinely Cost Less?

Energy efficient devices save you money by reducing your power consumption and in turn your energy bills.

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a noticeable fall in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and future devices, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy the appliance requires to run the greater the likely savings. I.e substituting an old, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the perfect size for your space, will make a notable impact whereas uprating your fridge with one that is only 10% more efficient will have a much less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made in the 1990’s you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was produced in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you make use of your household appliances energy-efficient settings to get the best reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When examining new appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the running costs will ensure you make the best decision for you.

How Energy Conserving Devices Help the Planet

Reducing energy consumption isn’t just about reducing your bills. Reducing energy requirements also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have irreversible effects on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the use of oil and gas that have been responsible for air quality decline and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was created in 1992 to ensure an quickly recognizable way for consumers to decide upon more eco-friendly household appliances.

Certified products must meet both energy performance and consumer requirements in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR rating change according to the device being tested. In order to gain the rating, household appliances must be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard design in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR rated products are equal in terms of efficiency. I.e a freezer that is 10% more efficient and one that uses 20% less energy could get the rating. Therefore although making sure you see the rating is a simple first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for You?

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

When you are shopping for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This shows the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to compare brands and models.

You may also want to know how much your energy costs you so you can make better comparisons.

Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:

  • Paying for one big fridge is more efficient than having two small ones. Unless you only need the spare one at certain times of the year
  • When purchasing a replacement washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a space saving machine twice is less efficient than using a higher capacity machine for a single run.
  • Even the best boiler will not save you money if it’s four times the spec you need for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.

Additional Types of Appliances