The majority of appliances appear very similar outwardly but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy efficiency and therefore operating costs.
Here you will learn all you need to know about energy conserving appliances. Learn more about what energy energy conserving devices are, how they work, the advantages of choosing them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact S.O.S. Santa Barbara Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is making use of less energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing a filament light bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same amount of light or insulating your home so you need less heating.
Energy efficiency is similar to but distinct from energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by requiring a different result. For example, opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only running the washing machine when you have a full load.
Energy efficient household appliances are engineered to offer the same outcomes in a more efficient way allowing you to save money. Lower electricity usage result in lower energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Many devices currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR marked, meaning they offer use less electricity than standard models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances also have EnergyGuide labels which demonstrate how efficient they are in comparison to other similar appliances.
These ratings can be a great starting point when figuring out if a device is low energy or not.
Types of Energy Efficient Devices
Some different types of energy efficient appliances include:
- Fridge-Freezers
- Dehumidifiers
- Water Heaters
- Washing Machines
- Dishwashers
How Energy Conserving Appliances work
Electricity saving devices work by applying the most up to date technology to ensure they use as little power as they can. That might look like better insulation in fridges, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to reduce drying time.
Reasons to Switch to Low Energy Devices
Switching to energy conserving devices makes sense for a number of reasons:
- Reducing energy. The more energy-efficient an appliance is the less energy it requires to complete its task. Meaning you can gain a big saving in energy without having to change your habits.
- Reducing cost. Although lower energy household appliances are likely to have a higher initial cost they will inevitably save you money in the long run by reducing your energy bills.
- Environmental benefits. Most of the energy we need for our daily lives comes from non-renewable resources and results in Carbon Dioxide and other gases being released into the atmosphere. Lessening our wastefulness of non-renewable resources also conserves them for future generations.
- Fuel Security. With fuel prices constantly going up and natural resources always being used up choosing more efficient devices will allow our demands to be met for longer.
Do Energy Conserving Devices Genuinely Reduce Bills?
Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your power consumption and therefore your electricity bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a substantial fall in your household bills will depend on the difference between the old and new devices, the amount they get used and how long the product lasts.
The older the good you are replacing is the bigger the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy the device requires to run the greater the likely savings. I.e replacing an old, wasteful, oversized air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your home, will make a marked impact whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is merely 10% more efficient is likely to have a markedly smaller impact.
Studies suggest that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, however if it was built in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less significant.
You also have to make sure you understand your appliances energy-efficient functions to get the greatest reductions. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.
When examining new appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the ongoing costs will help you make the prime choice for you.
How Energy Conserving Household Appliances Help the Environment
Saving energy isn’t only about saving you money. Cutting energy usage also has a sustainability impact.
Human actions have big impacts on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels that have been linked to air pollution and climate change.
As the general population become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is replying with less wasteful solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy dehumidifiers.
What are ENERGY STAR certified Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR certification was started in 1992 to ensure an readily detectable way for people to opt-for more eco-friendly household appliances.
Certified products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer needs in regards to performance and attributes.
The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the rating, devices must be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the base model in their class.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are equal in terms of efficiency. I.e a freezer that is 10% more efficient and one that is 18% more efficient could get the symbol. Thus although making sure you see the star is a great first step, it is still worth finding out the actual energy usage before making your final choice.
Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?
Low energy devices really do make a impact at a local and global level, meaning more money in your pocket and conserving both energy and resources.
If you are looking for a new appliance check the EnergyGuide label. It indicates the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it simpler to compare makes and designs.
You’ll also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.
Size makes a difference when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Having one full size fridge is more efficient than paying for two smaller ones. Unless you only use the spare one occasionally
- When purchasing a replacement washing machine consider the load size as running a space saving machine twice is less efficient than running a higher capacity machine for a single run.
- Even the most efficient water heater will not reduce your bills if it’s two times the capacity you need for your home.
Household appliances get less efficient as they get older so replace items that are past their best first and if you can, focus on the appliances that use the most energy.