Energy Efficient Appliances

Many appliances appear very comparable on the face of it but they can vary all together when it comes to energy efficiency and therefore running costs.

Here you can discover everything you need to know about electricity saving devices. Learn more about what energy electricity saving household appliances are, how they operate, the benefits of making the switch and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Lancaster Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is making use of less energy to perform the same function. For example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a more efficient LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your walls so you need less heating.

Energy efficiency is linked to but not the same as energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by changing the outcome. Eg choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient devices are engineered to give the same outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Less power requirements result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many devices currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer higher energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances display EnergyGuide labels which display how economical they are in comparison to other comparable devices.

These simple labels can be a handy first point of call when determining if a device is energy conserving or not.

Types of Electricity Saving Household Appliances

Some different types of energy efficient devices include:

  • Fridges
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Water Heaters
  • Washing Machines
  • Dishwashers

How Electricity Efficient Household Appliances work

Low energy devices work by employing the latest technology to maximize efficiency. That might look like more advanced insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to reduce drying time.

Advantages of Electricity Saving Devices

Switching to energy efficient appliances makes sense for many reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The more economical a device is the less power it uses to complete its purpose. Meaning you can see a dramatic reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
  2. Saving money. Although energy-efficient household appliances might have a bigger initial cost they will inevitably save you money over time by cutting your electricity bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the power we need for our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening our wastefulness of natural resources also conserves them for future generations.
  4. Fuel Security. With fuel costs continually increasing and natural resources constantly being used up choosing energy-efficient devices makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Electricity Efficient Household Appliances Genuinely Save Money?

Energy conserving devices save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and by association your electricity bills.

The extent to which you save and whether or not you notice a substantial difference in your annual bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and replacement appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.

The older the device you are changing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. In the same way the more energy it uses to run the more significant the possible savings. I.e replacing an worn out, wasteful, too big air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the correct size for your space, will make a marked difference whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive will have a much smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago 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 make certain you make use of your household appliances efficiency settings to get the most significant savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When examining new household appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the top choice for you.

How Electricity Efficient Devices Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t all about saving you money. Reducing energy usage also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have big impacts on the environment, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels that can be responsible for air pollution and global warming.

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

What are ENERGY STAR certified Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR symbol was started in 1992 to allow for an quickly recognizable way for buyers to decide upon more efficient household appliances.

Certified products must meet both energy consumption and consumer needs in regards to fulfillment and features.

The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the rating, appliances must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their class.

However, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a washing machine that is 12% more efficient and one that uses 20% less energy would get the symbol. Thus although looking out for the star is a simple place to start, it is still worth checking the actual figures before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Conserving Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?

Energy conserving appliances really do make a impact at an individual and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.

When you are looking for a new device have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to decide between brands and styles.

You’ll also want to know how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.

Size matters when it comes to appliances. For example:

  • Having one big fridge is more efficient than running two small ones. Unless you only need the spare one during the holidays
  • When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the size of the drum as running a smaller machine two times is less efficient than turning on a bigger machine once.
  • Even the best boiler will never reduce your bills if it’s two times the size you require for your home.

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

Additional Types of Appliances

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