Energy Efficient Appliances

Most household appliances look very similar from the outside but they can vary dramatically when it comes to energy saving and as a result running expenditure.

Here you will understand all you need to know about low energy household appliances. Discover what energy low energy household appliances are, what makes them different, the benefits of making the switch and when you should make the switch. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Prime Pasadena Appliance Repair.

What is an Energy Efficient Home Appliance?

In simple terms energy efficiency is making use of decreased energy to provide the same function. For example, replacing a standard light bulb with a more efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your roof so you need to turn the heating on less often.

Energy efficiency is similar to but different from energy conservation which requires making use of less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only running the washing machine when you have a full load.

Electricity efficient appliances are made to provide equivalent outcomes with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity usage result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.

Many household appliances currently manufactured in the USA are ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they offer use less energy than base models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are when looked at next to other comparable household appliances.

These ratings can be a handy place to start when determining if a device is energy conserving or not.

Types of Energy Efficient Household Appliances

Some different types of energy conserving devices include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Air Purifiers
  • Water Heaters
  • Washers
  • Tumble Dryers

How Energy Efficient Household Appliances work

Electricity saving household appliances work by taking advantage of the most up to date techniques to minimize energy consumption. That might look like more advanced insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to minimize drying time.

Reasons to Switch to Energy Conserving Appliances

Choosing low energy appliances makes sense for multiple reasons:

  1. Reducing energy. The more economical a device is the less energy it needs to complete its purpose. Meaning you can see a dramatic saving in energy without having to change your habits.
  2. Saving money. Although lower energy devices are likely to have a higher initial cost they will usually save you money over time by reducing your energy bills.
  3. Environmental benefits. Most of the electricity we use in our daily lives comes from oil and gas and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Lessening our use of non-renewable resources also keeps them for future use in a more sustainable way.
  4. Energy Security. With energy costs consistently going up and natural resources constantly depleting choosing less energy intensive devices will allow our demands to be met for longer.

Do Energy Conserving Devices Actually Cost Less?

Electricity saving household appliances save you money by reducing your electricity consumption and therefore your energy bills.

The amount you save and whether or not you see a noticeable reduction in your household bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the existing and replacement devices, the amount they get used and the lifespan of the product.

The older the good you are upgrading is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the device uses to run the bigger the possible savings. For example substituting an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your space, could make a noticeable impact whereas upgrading your fridge with one that is only 10% less energy intensive will have a markedly less noticeable impact.

Research suggests that if your fridge was built over 20 years ago you could gain up to $270 in five years, but if it was produced in the last 10 years the savings will be much lower.

You also have to make certain you use your household appliances energy saving functions to get the best savings. For example, there is no point having super energy efficient machine if you always wash at high temperatures.

When examining new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will ensure you make the prime decision for you.

How Electricity Saving Household Appliances Help the Environment

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

Our actions have irreversible effects on the environment, one of the most obvious of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels that are likely to be responsible for air pollution and climate change.

As more and more of us are becoming aware of the environmental effect of our daily choices the market is reacting with less wasteful solutions to our requirements. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy refrigerators.

What are ENERGY STAR marked Appliances?

The ENERGY STAR mark was started in 1992 to provide an easily understandable way for people to choose more efficient household appliances.

Rated appliances must meet both energy performance and consumer requirements in regards to quality and features.

The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR certification are different for different types of goods. In order to be awarded the star mark, appliances are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard model in their category.

However, not all ENERGY STAR certified products are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a fridge that is 10% more efficient and one that uses 22% less energy could get the symbol. Therefore although looking out for the star is a good place to start, it is still worth looking into the actual energy savings before picking the best one for you.

Is an Energy Efficient Appliance Right for You?

Energy efficient appliances really do make a difference at a local and international level, reducing your bills and more resources to go around.

If you are shopping for a new device check the EnergyGuide label. This label shows the amount of energy an appliance gets through and makes it simpler to decide between makes and designs.

You may also want to know how much your electricity costs you so you can make accurate comparisons.

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

  • Having one large fridge requires less energy than paying for two small ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one occasionally
  • When purchasing a new washing machine think about the load size as running a space saving machine multiple times will cost more than running a higher capacity machine for a single run.
  • Even the best boiler will be unable to save you money if it’s four times the size you should be using for your home.

Appliances use more energy as they deteriorate so replace items that are past their best first and if you are able to, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.

Additional Types of Appliances

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