Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances appear very comparable from the outside but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and as a result running costs.

In this article you will understand everything you need to know about energy conserving appliances. Learn more about what energy electricity saving household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Ignite Miami Beach Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is using lower energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which involves using less energy by adjusting behaviors or habits. Eg choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Low energy devices are designed to give equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save energy. Reduced power requirements result in lower energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

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

These ratings can be a good starting point when determining if a device is electricity saving or not.

Types of Electricity Efficient Appliances

Some different types of low energy household appliances include:

Refrigerators
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washers
Dishwashers

How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances work

Electricity saving devices work by taking advantage of the best current technology to maximize efficiency. That might look like superior insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.

Benefits of Low Energy Appliances

Choosing electricity efficient appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Saving energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less power it uses to undertake its task. Meaning you can see a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Saving money. Although lower energy appliances are likely to have a more expensive initial cost they will usually save you money in the long run by cutting your electricity bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our wastefulness of natural resources also keeps them for future generations.
Resource Security. With fuel costs constantly going up and natural resources continually depleting choosing energy-efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Saving Appliances Actually Cost Less?

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

The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable reduction in your annual bills will depend on the difference between the existing and replacement household appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the appliance requires to run the bigger the potential savings. I.e replacing an worn out, inefficient, too big air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your home, will make a marked impact whereas replacing your dishwasher with one that is just 10% less energy intensive will have a markedly smaller impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less significant.

You also have to make certain you use your appliances energy-efficient functions to get the greatest reductions. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When contrasting new household appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will help you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances Help the Planet

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

Our actions have massive effects on the environment, one of the most pressing of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the air through the use of non-renewable resources that appear to be correlated to air pollution and global warming.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily actions the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Devices?

The ENERGY STAR rating was formed in 1992 to provide an quickly detectable way for buyers to opt-for more efficient household appliances.

Certified products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer expectations in regards to quality and attributes.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the rating, household appliances must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the standard design in their grouping.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a fridge that uses 10% less energy and one that is 20% more efficient could get the symbol. So although making sure you see the symbol is a simple first step, it is still worth checking the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for You?

Low energy household appliances really do make a impact at a local and national level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

If you are in the market for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. It shows the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to compare brands and designs.

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

Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one big fridge is more efficient than running two small ones. Unless you only need the spare one during the holidays
When buying a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a smaller machine two times is less efficient than turning on a bigger machine for a single run.
Even the most efficient boiler will never save you money if it’s two times the size you need for your home.

Devices 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 items that use the most energy.