Energy Efficient Appliances

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 consequently operating expenditure.

Here you can learn all you need to know about energy conserving appliances. Learn more about what energy efficient household appliances are, what makes them different, the advantages of making the switch and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Prime Henderson Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of decreased energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing a standard bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by requiring a different result. For example, choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only using the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient devices are designed to offer equivalent outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save energy. Less power usage result in lower energy bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less energy than base models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices display EnergyGuide labels which show how efficient they are when looked at next to other comparable devices.

These ratings can be a handy starting point when figuring out if a device is electricity efficient or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Household Appliances

Some different types of electricity saving devices include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Air Conditioners
  • Water Heaters
  • Washers
  • Dishwashers

How Electricity Saving Devices work

Energy conserving appliances work by applying the most up to date technology to make sure they use as little electric as possible. That might mean superior insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Conserving Devices

Switching to electricity saving devices is a good idea for a number of reasons:

  1. Saving energy. The more economical an appliance is the less power it needs to undertake its purpose. Meaning you can experience a noticeable saving in energy without having to change your habits.
  2. Saving money. Although more efficient devices are likely to have a more expensive initial cost they will usually save you money over time by cutting your energy bills.
  3. Environmental benefits. Most of the power we need for our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Reducing our wastefulness of natural resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
  4. Fuel Security. With fuel costs consistently increasing and natural resources constantly depleting choosing less energy intensive devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Energy Conserving Appliances Really Cost Less?

Energy efficient devices save you money by reducing your energy usage and therefore your energy bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you notice a noticeable fall in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and future devices, how much you use them and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are changing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy the device requires to run the more significant the potential savings. I.e substituting an old, inefficient, too big air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the exact size for your home, could make a marked difference whereas replacing your fridge with one that is just 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a much less noticeable impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.

You also have to ensure you understand your household appliances energy saving settings to get the best savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When comparing new household appliances factoring in both the upfront price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the prime decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Devices Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t all about reducing your bills. Cutting energy requirements also has an environmental impact.

The things we do have irreversible effects on the natural world, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the use of oil and gas that appear to be correlated to air quality decline and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our needs. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy air conditioners.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was started in 1992 to provide an easily detectable way for consumers to opt-for more sustainable appliances.

Certified appliances must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to quality and features.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to have the star mark, appliances are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard product in their category.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 12% less energy and one that is 20% more efficient could get the certification. Thus although making sure you see the symbol is a simple first step, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

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

Energy efficient household appliances really do make a difference at a local and international level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

If you are shopping for a new appliance read the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it simpler to contrast makes and styles.

You might also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make more personalized comparisons.

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

  • Running one large fridge requires less energy than having two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the extra one during the holidays
  • When buying a new washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine multiple times uses more energy than running a higher capacity machine for a single run.
  • Even the most efficient water heater will be unable to reduce your bills if it’s three times the size you need for your home.

Household appliances use more energy as they deteriorate so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.

Additional Types of Appliances

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