Energy Efficient Appliances

Most appliances look very comparable externally but they can vary completely when it comes to energy saving and consequently operating costs.

In this article you can understand everything you need to know about electricity saving appliances. Learn more about what energy energy conserving appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the change or call a El Paso appliance repair company for a broken smart appliance. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Frontier 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 an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by requiring a different result. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient household appliances are designed to provide equivalent outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity usage result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less power than lower efficiency models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how economical they are compared to other equal capacity devices.

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

Types of Energy Efficient Household Appliances

Some different types of energy conserving devices include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Electricity Efficient Appliances work

Energy efficient appliances work by utilizing the best current technology to make sure they use as little energy as they can. That might mean better insulation in freezers, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to reduce drying time.

Benefits of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Using low energy devices makes sense for multiple reasons:

Saving energy. The more efficient a device is the less power it requires to undertake its task. Meaning you can gain a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient household appliances are likely to have a bigger up-front cost they will generally save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our exploitation of natural resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Energy Security. With resource prices constantly going up and natural resources continually depleting choosing less energy intensive appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Electricity Saving Household Appliances Actually Save Money?

Energy efficient devices save you money by reducing your power usage and therefore your energy bills.

How much you save and whether or not you notice a big difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and new devices, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.

The older the appliance you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the appliance requires to run the more significant the possible savings. For example substituting an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your space, will make a notable difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is merely 10% more efficient will have a much smaller impact.

Studies suggest that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in within the last decade the savings will be much less significant.

You also have to make certain you make use of your appliances energy-efficient settings to get the most significant reductions. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

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

How Electricity Efficient Appliances Help the Environment

Energy efficiency isn’t all about saving you money. Minimizing energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have irreversible effects on the planet, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the use of non-renewable resources that appear to be correlated to air quality decline and global warming.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is responding with more eco-friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR rating Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR rating was created in 1992 to ensure an readily recognizable way for people to choose more efficient appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both power consumption and consumer requirements in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR certification change according to the device being tested. In order to be awarded the rating, devices are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base model in their grouping.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that uses 12% less energy and one that is 22% more efficient could get the rating. Thus although making sure you see the symbol is a great place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for Your Home?

Electricity saving devices really do make a impression at an individual and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and better use of energy and resources.

Next time you are shopping for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it simpler to contrast makes and designs.

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

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

Running one full size fridge is more efficient than having two small ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one at certain times of the year
When buying a new washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine twice is less efficient than turning on a higher capacity machine for a single run.
Even the best boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s two times the capacity you need for your home.

Household appliances use more energy as they deteriorate so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.