Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of devices appear very similar on the face of it but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy saving and as a result operating costs.

Here you will learn all you need to know about energy efficient appliances. Discover what energy efficient household appliances are, how they operate, the benefits of choosing them and when you should make the change. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact CRT Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

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

Energy efficiency is related to but distinct from energy conservation which involves making use of less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. Eg choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Energy efficient appliances are made to offer equivalent outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Reduced power requirements result in lower utility bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many household appliances available in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most devices also have EnergyGuide labels which display how efficient they are when looked at next to other similar appliances.

These simple labels can be a good first point of call when deciding if a device is energy efficient or not.

Types of Low Energy Devices

Some examples of energy efficient household appliances include:

Fridge-Freezers
Air Purifiers
Water Heaters
Washing Machines
Tumble Dryers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Electricity saving devices work by taking advantage of the most up to date technology to maximize efficiency. That might be better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to minimize drying time.

Advantages of Electricity Efficient Goods

Choosing energy efficient devices is a good idea for multiple reasons:

Saving energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less energy it needs . Meaning you can see a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although lower energy household appliances may have a more expensive ticket price they will inevitably save you money in the long run by cutting your energy bills.
Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our exploitation of fossil fuels also conserves them for future generations.
Resource Security. With resource prices consistently increasing and natural resources always being used up choosing energy-efficient devices is a more sustainable option.

Do Low Energy Devices Genuinely Save Money?

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

The extent to which you save and whether or not you enjoy a big difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and future household appliances, 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 it requires to run the greater the likely savings. For example substituting an worn out, inefficient, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a notable difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a significantly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was made over 20 years ago you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, but if it was built in within the last decade the financial rewards will be much lower.

You also have to make certain you make use of your devices energy-efficient functions to get the best savings. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.

When contrasting new devices factoring in both the purchase price and the running costs will make sure you make the top choice for you.

How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t only about cutting costs. Minimizing energy requirements also has a sustainability 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 consumption of oil and gas that are likely to be linked to air pollution and climate change.

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

What are ENERGY STAR rating Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was started in 1992 to allow for an quickly recognizable way for consumers to choose more sustainable devices.

Certified products must meet both power efficiency and consumer needs in regards to quality and attributes.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to have the rating, devices must be a minimum percentage more efficient than the base product in their grouping.

This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified appliances are equal in terms of efficiency. For example a fridge that is 15% more efficient and one that uses 18% less energy could get the symbol. Thus although making sure you see the star is a simple place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before picking the best one for you.

Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for You?

Low energy devices really do make a impact on an individual and global level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are in the market for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. This indicates the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it easier to decide between brands and styles.

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

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

Having one large fridge requires less energy than running two small ones. Unless you only need the spare one occasionally
When buying a new washing machine think about the load size as running a lower capacity machine multiple times uses more energy than using a higher capacity machine once.
Even the lowest energy boiler will not reduce your bills if it’s four times the spec you need for your home.

Appliances use more energy as they get older so replace older items first and if you can, focus on the ones that contribute most to your overall energy usage.