Energy Efficient Appliances

Most devices appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and consequently operating costs.

Here you will learn all you need to know about electricity saving devices. Discover what energy energy conserving household appliances are, how they operate, the benefits of using them and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Tyson’s Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is using lower energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing a standard bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is similar to but distinct from energy conservation which requires using less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. Eg opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or just using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient devices are made to give equivalent outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Less energy usage result in lower energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many household appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less power than lower efficiency models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other similar devices.

These simple labels can be a handy starting point when deciding if a device is energy conserving or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Some examples of energy efficient household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Energy Efficient Appliances work

Electricity efficient appliances work by applying the best current techniques to ensure they waste as little power as they can. That might mean more advanced insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Choose Electricity Saving Devices

Switching to energy conserving appliances makes sense for multiple reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient a device is the less resources it needs to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can experience a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although lower energy household appliances may have a more expensive up-front cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our abuse of non-renewable resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With energy prices consistently rising and natural resources always depleting choosing less energy intensive appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Energy Conserving Appliances Really Cost Less?

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

The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a noticeable reduction in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the previous and replacement appliances, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy the appliance uses to run the greater the potential savings. I.e replacing an worn out, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the correct size for your home, could make a marked impact whereas uprating your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a much smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you understand your appliances efficiency functions 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 devices factoring in both the upfront price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the prime choice for you.

How Electricity Saving Devices Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t just about reducing your bills. Minimizing energy usage also has an environmental impact.

Human actions have big effects on the environment, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the burning of oil and gas that can be correlated to air pollution and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices the market is replying with more energy efficient solutions to our requirements. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was created in 1992 to ensure an quickly recognizable way for consumers to choose more sustainable household appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both power performance and consumer expectations in regards to fulfillment and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the rating, household appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their category.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy could get the rating. Thus although only looking at products with the rating is a great starting point, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for Your Home?

Energy conserving devices really do make a impact at an individual and global level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

If you are in the market for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It shows the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it simpler to decide between makes and styles.

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

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one bigger fridge is more efficient than running two little ones. Unless you only need the second one at certain times of the year
When purchasing a new washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine two times will cost more than using a higher capacity machine once.
Even the lowest energy boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s four times the spec you require for your home.

Household appliances use more energy as they age so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.