Energy Efficient Appliances

Many devices appear very similar on the face of it but they can vary completely when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result running costs.

Here you can discover everything you need to know about energy efficient household appliances. Discover what energy energy conserving devices are, how they operate, 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 Moreno Valley Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

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

Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which involves using less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. Eg opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity saving household appliances are designed to give equivalent outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Reduced power requirements result in lower utility bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less energy than lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are when looked at next to other comparable appliances.

These simple labels can be a good place to start when figuring out if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Low Energy Devices

Some different types of energy conserving appliances include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Air Purifiers
  • Water Heaters
  • Washing Machines
  • Dishwashers

How Energy Efficient Devices work

Electricity saving appliances work by taking advantage of the most up to date technology to ensure they use as little energy as possible. That might look like more advanced insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.

Benefits of Low Energy Appliances

Using energy efficient household appliances is a good idea for multiple reasons:

  1. Saving energy. The more economical a device is the less power it needs to complete its task. Meaning you can see a big reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
  2. Reducing cost. Although more efficient appliances might have a higher initial cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by cutting your electricity bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our abuse of fossil fuels also keeps them for future generations.
  4. Fuel Security. With resource costs constantly going up and natural resources always being used up choosing less energy intensive appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Electricity Saving Devices Really Cost Less?

Electricity saving household appliances save you money by reducing your electricity usage and by association your electricity bills.

How much you save and whether or not you see a noticeable reduction in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and replacement appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are upgrading is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy the device uses to run the greater the possible savings. For example substituting an old, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your space, will make a marked difference whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% more efficient will have a significantly smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was made over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was built in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to make sure you use your appliances energy-efficient functions to get the greatest reductions. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

When examining new appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the ongoing costs will help you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Conserving Devices Help the Environment

Reducing energy consumption isn’t only about reducing your bills. Cutting energy consumption also has an environmental impact.

Human actions have big effects on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the consumption of oil and gas that are likely to be linked to air quality degradation 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 environmentally friendly solutions to our requirements. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR certified Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was created in 1992 to ensure an easily detectable way for consumers to opt-for more sustainable appliances.

Rated products must meet both energy consumption and consumer expectations in regards to performance and attributes.

The conditions for the ENERGY STAR certification vary between different appliances. In order to gain the ENERGY STAR, appliances must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the standard model in their category.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 15% less energy and one that is 20% more efficient might get the certification. Therefore although making sure you see the symbol is a great starting point, it is still worth checking the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance Right for Your Home?

Electricity saving devices really do make a difference at an individual and global level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.

Next time you are looking for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This shows the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to contrast brands and styles.

You might also want to check how much your energy costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

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

  • Having one large fridge requires less energy than having two small ones. Unless you only use the spare one occasionally
  • When buying a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a lower capacity machine multiple times is less efficient than turning on a bigger machine once.
  • Even the most efficient water heater will not save you money if it’s four times the size you require for your home.

Appliances reduce in efficiency as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the items that use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances

CLICK-TO-CALL