Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances look very comparable on the face of it but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and as a result operating expenditure.

Here you will discover everything you need to know about low energy household appliances. Discover what energy electricity saving 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 E&L Coral Gables Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is making use of less energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent bulb with an energy efficient LED bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which involves employing less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy efficient appliances are designed to offer the same outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity usage result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many appliances for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less energy than lower efficiency models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most devices display EnergyGuide labels which advertize how efficient they are compared to other similar devices.

These ratings can be a great first point of call when determining if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Household Appliances

Some different types of low energy household appliances include:

  • Fridge-Freezers
  • Air Purifiers
  • Boilers
  • Washers
  • Dishwashers

How Low Energy Appliances work

Low energy devices work by employing the best current technology to minimize energy consumption. That might be more advanced insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.

Benefits of Low Energy Devices

Switching to low energy devices makes sense for multiple reasons:

  1. Saving energy. The more efficient a device is the less energy it needs to complete its task. Meaning you can experience a sizable saving in energy without losing any productivity.
  2. Saving money. Although more efficient appliances may have a higher up-front cost they will inevitably save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
  3. Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our abuse of natural resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
  4. Energy Security. With resource costs continually increasing and natural resources always being used up choosing energy-efficient household appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Low Energy Household Appliances Genuinely Cost Less?

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

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a noticeable difference in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the existing and new household appliances, the amount they get used and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy the device uses to run the greater the potential savings. For example substituting an broken, wasteful, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your space, could make a marked difference whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a markedly smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in within the last decade the financial rewards will be much less significant.

You also have to make sure you make use of your household appliances energy saving 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 examining new devices factoring in both the upfront price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Conserving Appliances Help the Planet

Saving energy isn’t all about reducing your bills. Cutting energy requirements also has an environmental impact.

Human actions have irreversible effects on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the burning of fossil fuels that appear to be responsible for air quality decline and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Devices?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to provide an readily detectable way for people to opt-for more eco-friendly devices.

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

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the star mark, appliances must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the standard product in their grouping.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a washing machine that uses 10% less energy and one that uses 20% less energy could get the symbol. So although making sure you see the rating is a simple starting point, it is still worth checking the actual energy savings before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Energy efficient devices really do make a impression on an individual and national level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.

Next time you are shopping for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to compare makes and styles.

You’ll also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.

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

  • Paying for one bigger fridge is more efficient than having two small ones. Unless you only use the extra one occasionally
  • When choosing a new washing machine think about the load size as running a space saving machine two times will cost more than running a bigger machine once.
  • Even the lowest energy water heater will never save you money if it’s three times the size you require for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they age so replace over 10 years old first and if you have the funds available, focus on the appliances that contribute most to your overall energy usage.

Additional Types of Appliances