The majority of household appliances look very similar outwardly but they can vary significantly when it comes to energy efficiency and consequently running costs.
In this article you will find out everything you need to know about low energy devices. Discover what energy low energy devices are, how they operate, the benefits of using them and when you should make the investment. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact Fort Smith Appliance Repair.
What is an Energy Efficient Household Appliance?
Basically energy efficiency is making use of lower energy to gain the same outcome. For example, replacing a filament light bulb with a lower energy fluorescent bulb that produces the same illumination or insulating your home so you need to turn the heating on less often.
Energy efficiency is similar to but different from energy conservation which involves using less energy by adjusting behaviours or habits. For example, choosing to take the bus when you might normally have used the car or just putting on the washing machine when you have a full load.
Low energy household appliances are made to offer equivalent results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save money. Lower electricity requirements result in lower electricity bills and less use of fossil fuels.
Many appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer superior energy efficiency compared to lower rated models, typically ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which lay out how economical they are when looked at next to other comparable household appliances.
These simple labels can be a handy starting point when deciding if a device is low energy or not.
Types of Low Energy Devices
Some different types of energy efficient devices include:
- Refrigerators
- Air Conditioners
- Water Heaters
- Washers
- Dishwashers
How Electricity Efficient Devices work
Electricity saving appliances work by utilizing the latest technology to minimize energy consumption. That might mean better insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in dryers to limit drying time.
Advantages of Electricity Saving Goods
Choosing energy conserving appliances makes sense for many reasons:
- Reducing energy. The less energy intensive a device is the less energy it needs . Meaning you can see a sizable reduction in energy consumption without losing any productivity.
- Saving money. Although more efficient appliances are likely to have a higher initial cost they will usually save you money over time by cutting your energy bills.
- Environmental advantages. Most of the power we use in our daily lives comes from non-renewable resources and results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing our wastefulness of natural resources also preserves them for future use in a more sustainable way.
- Resource Security. With energy costs consistently rising and natural resources always being used up choosing more efficient household appliances will allow our demands to be met for longer.
Do Electricity Saving Household Appliances Genuinely Save Money?
Energy conserving appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and therefore your utility bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you enjoy a big difference in your household bills will depend on the difference between the previous and future household appliances, how much you use them and the lifespan of the product.
The older the device you are replacing is the more you are likely to save. In the same way the more energy the device needs to run the greater the potential savings. I.e replacing an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR marked one that is the exact size for your space, will make a noticeable difference whereas uprating your dishwasher with one that is only 10% more efficient is likely to have a much smaller impact.
Studies suggest that if your fridge was built in the 1990’s you could save up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.
You also have to make certain you use your appliances efficiency settings to get the greatest savings. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.
When examining new devices factoring in both the ticket price and the running costs will help you make the top decision for you.
How Electricity Saving Household Appliances Help the Planet
Reducing energy consumption isn’t all about cutting costs. Cutting energy consumption also has a sustainability impact.
Our actions have big effects on the natural world, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the burning of non-renewable resources that appear to be correlated to air quality degradation and global warming.
As the general population become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily decisions the market is reacting with more environmentally friendly solutions to our problems. Whether that is electric cars or in this case low energy washing machines.
What are ENERGY STAR rating Appliances?
The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to provide an readily recognizable way for buyers to opt-for more sustainable household appliances.
Rated appliances must meet both energy efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to performance and features.
The requirements for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to have the rating, appliances must be at least a certain percentage less energy intensive than the base product in their grouping.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked goods are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a fridge that is 15% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient could get the symbol. So although looking out for the symbol is a simple first step, it is still worth looking into the actual figures before picking the best one for you.
Is an Electricity Efficient Appliance the Best Choice for Your Home?
Electricity efficient devices really do make a difference at an individual and national level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.
When you are looking for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This label indicates the cost of electricity an appliance uses and makes it easier to decide between makes and styles.
You may also want to make a note of how much you spend on your energy so you can make better comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to home appliances. For example:
- Running one big fridge requires less energy than paying for two smaller ones. Unless you only turn on the spare one occasionally
- When choosing a replacement washing machine consider the amount of washing you tend to do as running a smaller machine twice will cost more than running a higher capacity machine for a single run.
- Even the best water heater will be unable to save you money if it’s two times the capacity you require for your home.
Devices reduce in efficiency as they age so replace older items first and if you can, focus on the items that use the most energy.