Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of devices appear very comparable from the outside but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and as a result running costs.

In this article you will discover all you need to know about energy efficient devices. Learn more about what energy electricity saving devices 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 Triumph Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is using decreased energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy efficient appliances are designed to give equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save money. Reduced electricity requirements result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to base models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which display how efficient they are when looked at next to other equal capacity household appliances.

These simple labels can be a great starting point when figuring out if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Household Appliances

Some different types of energy efficient devices include:

Fridge-Freezers
Dehumidifiers
Boilers
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Electricity Saving Household Appliances work

Electricity efficient appliances work by applying the most up to date technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might look like more advanced insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Electricity Saving Goods

Choosing energy efficient household appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Saving energy. The more economical a device is the less energy it needs . Meaning you can experience a sizable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although lower energy appliances may have a higher initial cost they will usually save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our abuse of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Fuel Security. With energy costs consistently increasing and natural resources always depleting choosing more efficient devices is a more sustainable option.

Do Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Genuinely Reduce Bills?

Energy efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your power usage and therefore your electricity bills.

How much you save and whether or not you see a big difference in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the previous and new household appliances, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are upgrading is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. 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, could make a notable impact whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is just 10% more efficient will have a much less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was made 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 best reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

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

How Low Energy Household Appliances Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t all about reducing your bills. Reducing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

Human actions have massive effects on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the use of oil and gas that have been responsible for air quality decline and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is replying with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to allow for an readily detectable way for buyers to decide upon more sustainable devices.

Rated appliances must meet both energy efficiency and consumer expectations in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR certification vary between different appliances. In order to gain the rating, devices must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the standard product in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR rated products are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a fridge that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy would get the symbol. Thus although only looking at products with the rating is a great starting point, it is still worth checking the actual energy usage before making your final choice.

Is an Electricity Saving Appliance the Best Choice for You?

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

Next time you are in the market for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to contrast makes and models.

You might also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make better comparisons.

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one large fridge requires less energy than having two little ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one at certain times of the year
When choosing a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a space saving machine multiple times uses more energy than using a bigger machine once.
Even the most efficient water heater will not reduce your bills if it’s four times the spec you need for your home.

Household appliances get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace older items first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that use the most energy.