Energy Efficient Appliances

Many household appliances appear very comparable externally but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and as a result operating expenditure.

Here you will discover all you need to know about electricity efficient appliances. Learn more about what energy efficient appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of paying that little bit extra and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Witt Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is using reduced energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your roof so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but distinct from energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by changing the outcome. Eg choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy conserving household appliances are created to provide the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Lower energy usage result in lower utility bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many appliances currently manufactured in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to base models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are when looked at next to other comparable appliances.

These ratings can be a handy starting point when determining if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Devices

Some examples of energy conserving appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Conditioners
Boilers
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances work

Electricity saving household appliances work by taking advantage of the best current techniques to maximize efficiency. That might mean superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to limit drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Efficient Devices

Switching to energy efficient appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The less energy intensive an appliance is the less resources it needs . Meaning you can gain a sizable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although more efficient devices may have a higher up-front cost they will generally save you money over time by cutting your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the power we need for our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our wastefulness of natural resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Energy Security. With energy costs continually going up and natural resources always depleting choosing more efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Electricity Saving Appliances Genuinely Save Money?

Energy conserving devices save you money by reducing your power consumption and by association your utility bills.

How much you save and whether or not you see a substantial fall in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the old and replacement appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the appliance you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy the device needs to run the more significant the potential savings. For example replacing an worn out, inefficient, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your space, could make a noticeable impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is just 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Research suggests 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 made in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less significant.

You also have to ensure you understand your devices energy-efficient functions 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 devices factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the prime choice for you.

How Low Energy Appliances Help the Environment

Energy efficiency isn’t just about cutting costs. Minimizing energy consumption also has an environmental impact.

Human actions have irreversible effects on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the use of non-renewable resources that are likely to be correlated to air quality decline and global warming.

As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is reacting with more environmentally friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR rating was started in 1992 to provide an quickly recognizable way for people to choose more sustainable devices.

Certified appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer expectations in regards to quality and features.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base product in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR certified appliances are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a fridge that is 15% more efficient and one that uses 18% less energy could get the symbol. Therefore although looking out for the symbol is a great place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Low Energy Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Energy conserving household appliances really do make a impression on an individual and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are looking for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to decide between brands and styles.

You’ll also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make more personalized comparisons.

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

Paying for one full size fridge is more efficient than paying for two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the second one at certain times of the year
When purchasing a new washing machine think about the load size as running a smaller machine twice will cost more than running a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the best water heater will never save you money if it’s four times the size you require for your home.

Devices get less efficient as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you are able to, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.