Energy Efficient Appliances

Many appliances appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy economy and therefore running expenditure.

In this article you can discover everything you need to know about electricity efficient appliances. Discover what energy electricity saving devices are, how they work, the advantages of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Jacobs Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Appliance?

Basically energy efficiency is making use of decreased energy to gain the same outcome. This could mean, replacing a standard light bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires employing less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.

Low energy appliances are made to give equivalent results using less energy allowing you to save money. Reduced energy requirements result in lower energy bills and fewer environmental impacts.

Many devices currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than base models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are compared to other equal capacity household appliances.

These ratings can be a great place to start when determining if an appliance is low energy or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Devices

Some examples of energy efficient devices include:

Fridges
Air Purifiers
Boilers
Washers
Dishwashers

How Energy Conserving Appliances work

Energy conserving devices work by applying the best current techniques to ensure they use as little power as they can. That might be more advanced insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to reduce drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Conserving Appliances

Using electricity efficient appliances makes sense for many reasons:

Reducing energy. The more efficient an appliance is the less energy it needs . Meaning you can experience a noticeable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
Reducing cost. Although energy-efficient devices may have a more expensive initial cost they will generally save you money in the long run by reducing your utility bills.
Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we need for our homes comes from fossil fuels and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our use of fossil fuels also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
Resource Security. With energy prices constantly increasing and natural resources continually depleting choosing energy-efficient appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Efficient Appliances Really Cost Less?

Electricity efficient devices save you money by reducing your energy usage and by association your utility bills.

How much you save and whether or not you notice a big reduction in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and replacement household appliances, the degree of use and how long the product lasts.

The older the good you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. Similarly the more energy it uses to run the more significant the possible savings. For example replacing an broken, inefficient, oversized air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the correct size for your space, will make a notable impact whereas uprating your fridge with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a much 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 made in within the last decade the money you save will be much less.

You also have to make certain you understand your household appliances energy saving functions to get the most significant 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 purchase price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the best choice for you.

How Energy Efficient Appliances Help the Environment

Saving energy isn’t only about saving you money. Reducing energy consumption also has an environmental impact.

Human 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 consumption of fossil fuels that can be linked to air pollution and climate change.

As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is responding with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is reusable coffee cups or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR rated Household Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to provide an easily recognizable way for consumers to choose more efficient devices.

Rated products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer needs in regards to quality and attributes.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark change according to the device being tested. In order to have the ENERGY STAR, household appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base model in their class.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. For example a fridge that uses 10% less energy and one that uses 22% less energy could get the certification. So although only looking at products with the symbol is a good place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

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

Electricity saving appliances really do make a difference on an individual and national level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.

Next time you are looking for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the cost of energy an appliance needs and makes it easier to compare brands and styles.

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

Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:

Running one bigger fridge requires less energy than running two little ones. Unless you only need the second one during the holidays
When choosing a new washing machine think about the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine multiple times will cost more than using a higher capacity machine for a single run.
Even the best boiler will not save you money if it’s four times the spec you should be using for your home.

Household appliances reduce in efficiency as they get older so replace over 10 years old first and if you are able to, focus on the items that use the most energy.