Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of household appliances appear very comparable externally but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy efficiency and as a result running expenditure.

In this article you will learn all you need to know about energy conserving household appliances. Discover what energy efficient household appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of paying that little bit extra and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Enhance New Brunswick Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

Put simply energy efficiency is using less energy to give the same results. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same brightness or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which involves employing less energy by changing the outcome. For example, opting to walk when you might normally have used the car or only using the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient appliances are engineered to provide equivalent results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity requirements result in lower electricity bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Many household appliances available in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less energy than standard models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most devices will also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how efficient they are in comparison to other equal capacity appliances.

These ratings can be a good starting point when determining if an appliance is low energy or not.

Types of Low Energy Appliances

Some examples of electricity efficient appliances include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Air Purifiers
  • Boilers
  • Washers
  • Tumble Dryers

How Energy Efficient Devices work

Electricity saving household appliances work by employing the most up to date technology to make sure they waste as little power as possible. That might mean more advanced insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to minimize drying time.

Benefits of Electricity Saving Appliances

Switching to electricity efficient household appliances is a good idea for multiple reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less power it needs to complete its purpose. Meaning you can experience a sizable saving in energy without losing any productivity.
  2. Reducing cost. Although more efficient devices are likely to have a more expensive ticket price they will generally save you money in the long run by reducing your electricity bills.
  3. Environmental advantages. Most of the power we need for our homes comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our wastefulness of natural resources also preserves them for future generations.
  4. Fuel Security. With fuel costs continually going up and natural resources always depleting choosing less energy intensive household appliances makes it easier to meet demand.

Do Energy Efficient Appliances Genuinely Cost Less?

Electricity saving appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and in turn your electricity bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you enjoy a noticeable difference in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the old and new household appliances, the amount they get used and the lifespan of the product.

The older the appliance you are changing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy it needs to run the more significant the possible savings. For example replacing an worn out, wasteful, oversized air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a noticeable impact whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is only 10% less energy intensive is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.

Reports suggest that if your fridge was produced over 20 years ago you could save up to $270 in five years, however if it was made in within the last decade the money you save will be much lower.

You also have to ensure you use your appliances energy-efficient settings 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 comparing new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the ongoing costs will make sure you make the best decision for you.

How Energy Conserving Household Appliances Help the Planet

Energy efficiency isn’t all about reducing your bills. Minimizing energy requirements also has a sustainability impact.

Our actions have massive impacts on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the air through the use of oil and gas that appear to be responsible for air quality decline and global warming.

As we become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily decisions the market is replying with more eco-friendly solutions to our problems. Whether that is reusable coffee cups or in this case low energy washing machines.

What are ENERGY STAR rating Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to allow for an easily detectable way for people to decide upon more eco-friendly household appliances.

Rated products must meet both power consumption and consumer needs in regards to performance and features.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark are different for different types of goods. In order to gain the rating, household appliances are required to be a minimum percentage less energy intensive than the standard model in their category.

As a result, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are equal when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a freezer that uses 15% less energy and one that uses 20% less energy might get the symbol. Therefore although looking out for the star is a great place to start, it is still worth finding out the actual figures before making your final choice.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for Your Home?

Electricity saving appliances really do make a difference at a local and international level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.

If you are looking for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it more straight forward to decide between makes and designs.

You may also want to make a note of how much your electricity costs you so you can make more personalized comparisons.

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

  • Paying for one bigger fridge requires less energy than running two little ones. Unless you only need the spare one occasionally
  • When choosing a replacement washing machine think about the size of the drum as running a smaller machine twice uses more energy than running a higher capacity machine once.
  • Even the best water heater will be unable to save you money if it’s two times the size you need for your home.

Devices get less efficient as they age so replace older items first and if you are able to, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.

Additional Types of Appliances