Energy Efficient Appliances

Many devices appear very similar from the outside but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and consequently operating costs.

Here you will find out all you need to know about energy conserving devices. Learn more about what energy electricity efficient appliances are, how they work, the advantages of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Corona Appliance Repair

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is employing less energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

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

Electricity efficient appliances are created to offer equivalent results in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Lower energy requirements result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many appliances currently manufactured in the United States are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are in comparison to other equal capacity devices.

These ratings can be a good place to start when deciding if an appliance is electricity efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Appliances

Some examples of energy efficient appliances include:

Fridges
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Low Energy Devices work

Energy conserving household appliances work by applying the most up to date technology to ensure they waste as little power as possible. That might look like better insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Low Energy Appliances

Choosing electricity efficient household appliances is a good idea for a number of reasons:

Reducing energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less energy it requires to complete its purpose. Meaning you can gain a big saving in energy without losing any productivity.
Saving money. Although lower energy appliances might have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our abuse of fossil fuels also preserves them for future generations.
Fuel Security. With fuel prices continually going up and natural resources continually being used up choosing energy-efficient devices is a more sustainable option.

Do Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Really Cost Less?

Energy conserving household appliances save you money by reducing your energy usage and by association your utility bills.

How much you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial fall in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and future appliances, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are changing is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy it requires to run the greater the potential savings. I.e substituting an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the exact size for your home, will make a notable difference whereas replacing your fridge with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a much less noticeable impact.

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

You also have to make certain you understand your household appliances efficiency settings 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 household appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will help you make the top decision for you.

How Low Energy Household Appliances Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t all about cutting costs. Cutting energy usage also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have massive impacts on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the burning 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 effect of our daily decisions the market is replying with more environmentally friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was created in 1992 to ensure an easily understandable way for consumers to choose more eco-friendly household appliances.

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

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to have the rating, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base product in their class.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that is 10% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient might get the certification. Therefore although making sure you see the rating is a good starting point, it is still worth looking into the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Saving Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Low energy devices really do make a impact at an individual and international level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.

When you are in the market for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the cost of electricity an appliance gets through and makes it easier to decide between brands and designs.

You may also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make better comparisons.

Size matters when it comes to home appliances. For example:

Running one full size fridge is more efficient than paying for two little ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one at certain times of the year
When buying a replacement washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a space saving machine multiple times will cost more than turning on a higher capacity machine once.
Even the lowest energy boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s three times the capacity you need for your home.

Devices reduce in efficiency as they age 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.