Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy efficiency and consequently running expenditure.

Here you can find out everything you need to know about low energy appliances. Learn more about what energy low energy appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of using them and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Solis Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is using reduced energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which requires employing less energy by requiring a different result. For example, opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or only putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity saving appliances are created to provide the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Reduced power requirements result in lower utility bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many devices for sale in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower efficiency models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other similar appliances.

These simple labels can be a good starting point when determining if an appliance is electricity efficient or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Appliances

Some examples of low energy appliances include:

Fridges
Air Conditioners
Boilers
Washers
Tumble Dryers

How Electricity Saving Appliances work

Energy conserving household appliances work by employing the best current technology to ensure they use as little power as possible. That might look like superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.

Advantages of Energy Efficient Appliances

Choosing energy conserving appliances is a good idea for multiple reasons:

Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less resources it requires to complete its task. Meaning you can experience a dramatic saving in energy without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although energy-efficient appliances might have a bigger ticket price they will usually save you money over time by cutting your utility bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our wastefulness of natural resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Energy Security. With resource costs consistently rising and natural resources always being used up choosing more efficient appliances is a more sustainable option.

Do Electricity Saving Appliances Really Reduce Bills?

Energy efficient appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and therefore your utility bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial difference in your monthly bills will depend on the difference between the previous and replacement devices, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the appliance you are upgrading is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy the appliance requires to run the greater the likely savings. I.e replacing an broken, wasteful, oversized air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the correct size for your space, could make a notable impact whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is just 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less significant.

You also have to ensure you make use of your appliances energy-efficient settings to get the greatest savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.

When examining new devices factoring in both the purchase price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the prime decision for you.

How Low Energy Household Appliances Help the Environment

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

Human actions have big effects on the planet, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the consumption of oil and gas that have been correlated to air quality decline and global warming.

As the general population become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily actions the market is reacting with more environmentally friendly solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was formed in 1992 to provide an easily understandable way for people to choose more efficient devices.

Rated appliances must meet both power consumption and consumer requirements in regards to performance and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, devices are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their grouping.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated goods are the same in terms of efficiency. I.e a fridge that is 10% more efficient and one that is 18% more efficient might get the symbol. So although only looking at products with the rating is a great first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

Low energy appliances really do make a impression at a local and national level, meaning more money in your pocket and more resources to go around.

When you are shopping for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. It shows the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it simpler to contrast makes and designs.

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

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

Running one big fridge is more efficient than having two small ones. Unless you only need the second one occasionally
When buying a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a lower capacity machine multiple times will cost more than using a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the most efficient water heater will never reduce your bills if it’s three times the capacity you should be using for your home.

Household appliances use more energy as they age so replace items that are past their best first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.