Many appliances look very similar externally but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and as a result running costs.
Here you can understand everything you need to know about electricity efficient household appliances. Learn more about what energy low energy appliances are, how they work, the benefits of using them and whether they are right for you and your home. For questions concerning energy-efficient appliances and other home appliances, contact R&D Colorado Springs Appliance Repair.
Basically energy efficiency is employing reduced energy to provide the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent bulb with a lower energy LED bulb that produces the same level of light or insulating your walls so you need to turn the heating on less often.
Energy efficiency is similar to but not the same as energy conservation which requires using less energy by changing the outcome. For example, choosing to walk when you might normally have used the car or only running the dishwasher when you have a full load.
Energy conserving appliances are designed to provide the same results with lower energy requirements allowing you to save energy. Reduced energy requirements result in lower utility bills and less use of fossil fuels.
Many household appliances available in the USA are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer use less electricity than lower rated models, usually ranging from 10-50%. Most household appliances have EnergyGuide labels which show how efficient they are compared to other comparable appliances.
These simple labels can be a good starting point when figuring out if a device is electricity saving or not.
Some examples of energy conserving devices include:
Energy conserving appliances work by utilizing the most up to date techniques to ensure they use as little electric as possible. That might be superior insulation in freezers, filters in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in tumble dryers to limit drying time.
Using electricity efficient devices is a good idea for many reasons:
Electricity efficient household appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and in turn your utility bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you enjoy a substantial fall in your annual 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 appliance you are upgrading is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Similarly the more energy the appliance needs to run the greater the potential savings. For example substituting an broken, inefficient, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a replacement ENERGY STAR rated one that is the perfect size for your home, could make a marked difference whereas uprating your fridge with one that is merely 10% less energy intensive will have a significantly 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 the last 10 years the financial rewards will be much less.
You also have to ensure you make use of your devices energy-efficient functions to get the most significant reductions. For example, setting your dryer for a fixed time negates its ability to sense when your clothes are nearly dry.
When contrasting new household appliances factoring in both the purchase price and the ongoing costs will ensure you make the best decision for you.
Energy efficiency isn’t only about reducing your bills. Reducing energy usage also has an environmental impact.
Our actions have big impacts on the natural world, one of the most pressing of which is the release of carbon dioxide into the environment through the use of oil and gas that have been correlated to air pollution and global warming.
As we become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily actions the market is reacting with more energy efficient solutions to our problems. Whether that is reusable water bottles or in this case low energy washing machines.
The ENERGY STAR certification was formed in 1992 to provide an quickly recognizable way for buyers to decide upon more eco-friendly devices.
Rated products must meet both energy efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to performance and features.
The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating vary between different appliances. In order to have the star mark, devices are required to be a minimum percentage more efficient than the standard product in their grouping.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR certified appliances are the same in terms of efficiency. For example a freezer that is 10% more efficient and one that uses 20% less energy would get the symbol. Therefore although looking out for the star is a simple first step, it is still worth looking into the actual energy usage before making your final choice.
Electricity efficient household appliances really do make a difference at a local and global level, saving you money over time and more resources to go around.
Next time you are shopping for a new device read the EnergyGuide label. This tells you the cost of electricity an appliance gets through and makes it more straight forward to decide between makes and styles.
You’ll also want to check how much you spend on your energy so you can make more personalized comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:
Household appliances use more energy as they get older so replace older items first and if you have the funds available, focus on the ones that use the most energy.
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