The majority of household appliances appear very similar on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy efficiency and therefore operating expenditure.
In this article you can learn all you need to know about electricity saving devices. Learn more about what energy electricity saving household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of using them and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Greeley Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is employing reduced energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.
Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires using less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.
Energy conserving devices are designed to offer equivalent results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Reduced energy requirements result in lower electricity bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Many household appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than base models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are when looked at next to other comparable appliances.
These simple labels can be a handy place to start when determining if an appliance is electricity saving or not.
Types of Energy Conserving Devices
Some examples of electricity efficient devices include:
- Refrigerators
- Air Purifiers
- Boilers
- Washing Machines
- Dishwashers
How Electricity Efficient Appliances work
Energy efficient household appliances work by taking advantage of the latest technology to minimize energy consumption. That might look like more advanced insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.
Advantages of Electricity Saving Goods
Switching to electricity saving devices makes sense for many reasons:
- Reducing energy. The more economical an appliance is the less energy it uses . Meaning you can see a dramatic saving in energy without having to change your habits.
- Reducing cost. Although more efficient household appliances are likely to have a more expensive initial cost they will inevitably save you money over time by cutting your energy bills.
- Environmental benefits. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our use of non-renewable resources also preserves them for future generations.
- Fuel Security. With resource prices consistently rising and natural resources constantly depleting choosing less energy intensive devices makes it easier to meet demand.
Do Energy Efficient Household Appliances Genuinely Cost Less?
Electricity efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and by association your energy bills.
The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a big fall in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and replacement devices, the degree of use and the lifespan of the product.
The older the good you are upgrading is the more you are likely to save. Likewise the more energy it uses to run the bigger the potential savings. I.e replacing an worn out, inefficient, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the exact size for your space, will make a marked impact whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a much less noticeable impact.
Reports suggest that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the savings will be much less.
You also have to ensure you make use of your devices energy saving settings to get the best savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.
When comparing new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the running costs will make sure you make the top choice for you.
How Electricity Efficient Devices Help the Planet
Energy efficiency isn’t only about reducing your bills. Reducing energy consumption also has an environmental impact.
Our actions have massive effects on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the burning of fossil fuels that can be responsible for air pollution and global warming.
As the general population become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.
What are ENERGY STAR rated Devices?
The ENERGY STAR symbol was created in 1992 to provide an quickly detectable way for consumers to opt-for more sustainable appliances.
Certified products must meet both energy consumption and consumer requirements in regards to quality and attributes.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, appliances must be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base design in their class.
As a result, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 18% less energy would get the certification. Thus although only looking at products with the symbol is a good place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before making your final choice.
Is an Energy Conserving Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?
Energy conserving devices really do make a impression at an individual and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and better use of energy and resources.
Next time you are shopping for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This indicates the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to compare brands and models.
You might also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Paying for one large fridge is more efficient than running 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 uses more energy than using a higher capacity machine once.
- Even the best boiler will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s three times the size you require for your home.
Appliances use more energy as they deteriorate so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the ones that use the most energy.