Most appliances appear very similar from the outside but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy saving and consequently running expenditure.
Here you can discover all you need to know about low energy household appliances. Discover what energy low energy appliances 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 True Baton Rouge Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?
Put simply energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to gain the same outcome. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.
Energy efficiency is linked to but different from energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. Eg opting to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just running the dishwasher when you have a full load.
Energy conserving household appliances are made to give equivalent outcomes using less energy allowing you to save money. Reduced power requirements result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.
Many appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to standard models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances have EnergyGuide labels which show how economical they are in comparison to other similar appliances.
These simple labels can be a great first point of call when figuring out if a device is energy conserving or not.
Types of Energy Conserving Household Appliances
Some examples of energy efficient appliances include:
- Fridges
- Air Conditioners
- Boilers
- Washers
- Dishwashers
How Electricity Saving Appliances work
Electricity efficient household appliances work by employing the most up to date techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might mean superior insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.
Advantages of Electricity Efficient Goods
Switching to energy efficient appliances is a good idea for multiple reasons:
- Saving energy. The more economical a device is the less power it uses to complete its purpose. Meaning you can gain a big saving in energy without losing any productivity.
- Saving money. Although lower energy appliances are likely to have a more expensive initial cost they will usually save you money over time by cutting your utility bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our use of fossil fuels also conserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Fuel Security. With energy prices continually going up and natural resources continually being used up choosing more efficient household appliances makes it easier to meet demand.
Do Energy Efficient Appliances Really Cost Less?
Low energy appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and therefore your electricity bills.
How much you save and whether or not you see a big difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement household appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.
The older the device you are changing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the appliance needs to run the more significant the likely savings. For example replacing an worn out, wasteful, oversized air conditioner with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your space, will make a notable impact whereas upgrading your dishwasher with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly less noticeable impact.
Studies suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the money you save will be much less.
You also have to make certain you make use of your appliances efficiency 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 examining new devices factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will help you make the best choice for you.
How Low Energy Devices Help the Environment
Saving energy isn’t all about reducing your bills. Cutting energy usage also has an environmental impact.
Our actions have irreversible effects on the planet, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the use of fossil fuels that have been responsible for air pollution and global warming.
As the general population become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is replying with more environmentally friendly solutions to our needs. Whether that is reusable straws or in this case low energy air conditioners.
What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to provide an quickly recognizable way for people to opt-for more eco-friendly appliances.
Rated appliances must meet both energy efficiency and consumer needs in regards to performance and features.
The conditions for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to gain the rating, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their category.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR rated appliances are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a washing machine that uses 15% less energy and one that is 22% more efficient might get the rating. Thus although looking out for the rating is a great place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.
Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance Right for You?
Low energy appliances really do make a difference on an individual and national level, meaning more money in your pocket and better use of energy and resources.
When you are shopping for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the amount of energy an appliance needs and makes it more straight forward to decide between brands and models.
You may also want to check how much your electricity costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Having one full size fridge requires less energy than paying for two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the second one at certain times of the year
- When buying a replacement washing machine think about the load size as running a space saving machine multiple times uses more energy than running a bigger machine for a single run.
- Even the most efficient boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s four times the capacity you require for your home.
Appliances use more energy as they deteriorate so replace older items first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.