The majority of household appliances look very comparable on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy saving and therefore running costs.
Here you can understand all you need to know about low energy devices. Discover what energy low energy household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Spring Appliance Repair NOW.
What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is using decreased energy to gain the same outcome. This could mean, replacing a standard bulb with a more 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 similar to but distinct from energy conservation which requires using less energy by requiring a different result. Eg opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the washing machine when you have a full load.
Electricity saving appliances are made to provide the same outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Less energy requirements result in lower utility bills and less use of fossil fuels.
Many devices for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less energy than lower efficiency models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are compared to other similar appliances.
These ratings can be a good starting point when deciding if a device is electricity saving or not.
Types of Electricity Saving Devices
Some examples of low energy household appliances include:
- Refrigerators
- Dehumidifiers
- Boilers
- Washing Machines
- Tumble Dryers
How Energy Conserving Devices work
Low energy devices work by employing the latest techniques to make sure they use as little power as they can. That might look like superior insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.
Reasons to Switch to Energy Conserving Appliances
Choosing energy conserving appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:
- Saving energy. The more economical an appliance is the less resources it needs . Meaning you can see a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
- Saving money. Although energy-efficient devices might have a bigger initial cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by cutting your utility bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the electricity we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our use of fossil fuels also preserves them for future generations.
- Fuel Security. With energy costs consistently going up and natural resources constantly depleting choosing energy-efficient devices is a more sustainable option.
Do Electricity Efficient Devices Really Cost Less?
Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and in turn your electricity bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable difference in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and replacement household appliances, the intensity of use and the lifespan of the product.
The older the appliance you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy the device needs to run the greater the potential savings. I.e substituting an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the perfect size for your home, will make a notable impact whereas replacing your fridge with one that is just 10% more efficient will have a markedly smaller impact.
Reports suggest that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, but if it was built 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 efficiency functions to get the most significant savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.
When examining new household appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will ensure you make the top decision for you.
How Electricity Saving Appliances Help the Environment
Saving energy isn’t all about cutting costs. Minimizing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.
The things we do have irreversible impacts on the planet, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the consumption of oil and gas that are likely to be responsible for air pollution and global warming.
As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is reacting with more eco-friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy air conditioners.
What are ENERGY STAR rating Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR mark was started in 1992 to provide an easily recognizable way for consumers to choose more efficient appliances.
Rated appliances must meet both energy efficiency and consumer expectations in regards to performance and attributes.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the star mark, appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their category.
However, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are equal in terms of efficiency. I.e a washing machine that uses 12% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy might get the rating. Therefore although making sure you see the star is a simple first step, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before picking the best one for you.
Is an Low Energy Appliance Right for Your Home?
Electricity saving devices really do make a difference at a local and national level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.
Next time you are shopping for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This indicates the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to contrast makes and styles.
You’ll also want to know how much your energy costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:
- Running one large fridge is more efficient than paying for two small ones. Unless you only turn on the extra one during the holidays
- When purchasing a new washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a space saving machine twice will cost more than using a higher capacity machine for a single run.
- Even the best boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s four times the spec you need for your home.
Household appliances get less efficient as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.