Energy Efficient Appliances

Many devices look very similar externally but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and as a result operating costs.

Here you will learn everything you need to know about low energy household appliances. Discover what energy electricity saving appliances are, how they work, 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 Total Toledo Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is using lower energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is related to but different from energy conservation which involves using less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the washing machine when you have a full load.

Energy conserving household appliances are designed to offer equivalent results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Reduced energy requirements result in lower electricity bills and less environmental impact.

Many household appliances for sale in the United States are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to standard models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how economical they are when looked at next to other comparable appliances.

These ratings can be a great starting point when figuring out if a device is energy conserving or not.

Types of Energy Conserving Devices

Some different types of electricity saving devices include:

Refrigerators
Air Conditioners
Boilers
Washing Machines
Dishwashers

How Low Energy Appliances Work

Electricity saving household appliances work by taking advantage of the latest technology to minimize energy consumption. That might be better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.

Advantages of Energy Efficient Devices

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

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less energy it uses . Meaning you can gain a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without having to change your habits.
Reducing cost. Although more efficient devices might have a bigger up-front cost they will usually save you money in the long run by reducing your utility bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the energy we need for our daily lives comes from fossil fuels and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our abuse of fossil fuels also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Energy Security. With fuel costs consistently rising and natural resources continually depleting choosing energy-efficient devices will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Low Energy Devices Really Reduce Bills?

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

The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial reduction in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and future appliances, the amount they get used 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 it needs to run the bigger the likely savings. For example replacing an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the exact size for your space, could make a noticeable difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made last century you could gain up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in within the last decade the savings will be much lower.

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

When comparing new appliances factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will ensure you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances Help the Environment

Reducing energy consumption isn’t just about reducing your bills. Minimizing energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.

The things we do have massive effects on the planet, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the consumption of oil and gas that are likely to be responsible for air quality degradation and global warming.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.

What Are ENERGY STAR Rating Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to ensure an readily detectable way for consumers to decide upon more efficient appliances.

Rated appliances must meet both energy performance and consumer requirements in regards to performance and features.

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

This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked products are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a washing machine that is 15% more efficient and one that uses 22% less energy could get the symbol. Therefore although looking out for the star is a simple starting point, it is still worth finding out the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Low Energy Appliance Right for You?

Low energy devices really do make a impression on an individual and international level, reducing your bills and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are looking for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It tells you the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to contrast brands and models.

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

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

Paying for one bigger fridge requires less energy than running two smaller ones. Unless you only need the second one at certain times of the year
When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a lower capacity machine two times will cost more than turning on a higher capacity machine once.
Even the most efficient boiler will not save you money if it’s three times the size you require for your home.

Devices get less efficient as they age so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the items that use the most energy.