Many household appliances appear very comparable from the outside but they can vary all together when it comes to energy economy and consequently running expenditure.
In this article you can find out all you need to know about energy efficient household appliances. Discover what energy electricity efficient devices are, what makes them different, 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 Colton Appliance Repair.
Put simply energy efficiency is employing lower energy to perform the same function. This could mean, replacing an incandescent light bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light 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 requires employing less energy by changing the outcome. For example, opting to cycle when you might normally have used the car or only putting on the washing machine when you have a full load.
Electricity saving appliances are created to give equivalent results using less energy allowing you to save energy. Lower electricity usage result in lower energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Many household appliances available in the United States are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they offer better energy efficiency compared to standard models, normally ranging from 10-50%. Most appliances will also have EnergyGuide labels which advertize how economical they are in comparison to other equal capacity appliances.
These ratings can be a great place to start when deciding if a device is energy efficient or not.
Some examples of energy conserving household appliances include:
Electricity efficient appliances work by employing the most up to date technology to minimize electricity consumption. That might be more advanced insulation in fridges, dirt sensors in dishwashers, or moisture sensors in clothes dryers to minimize drying time.
Choosing electricity efficient household appliances makes sense for many reasons:
Electricity efficient appliances save you money by reducing your energy consumption and by association your energy bills.
The extent to which you save and whether or not you see a noticeable difference in your monthly bills will depend on the relative efficiency of the previous and future household appliances, the intensity of use and how long the product lasts.
The older the good you are changing is the more significant the difference you are likely to see. Likewise the more energy the device uses to run the greater the potential savings. For example substituting an worn out, wasteful, overcapacity air conditioning unit with a new ENERGY STAR accredited one that is the correct size for your space, could make a noticeable difference whereas replacing your fridge with one that is just 10% less energy intensive will have a much smaller impact.
Research suggests that if your fridge was produced last century you are looking to save up to $270 in five years, but if it was made in within the last decade the savings will be much less.
You also have to make sure you understand your household appliances efficiency functions to get the greatest savings. For example, manual defrost is more energy-efficient than auto defrost, but only if you remember to keep defrosting.
When comparing new devices factoring in both the upfront price and the usage costs will ensure you make the best decision for you.
Reducing energy consumption isn’t just about saving you money. Minimizing energy usage also has an environmental impact.
Our actions have big impacts on the planet, one of the most prevalent of which is the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment through the burning of non-renewable resources that are likely to be responsible for air quality degradation and global warming.
As the general population become more aware of the environmental cost of our daily choices the market is responding with more energy efficient solutions to our problems. Whether that is cheaper solar panels or in this case low energy air conditioners.
The ENERGY STAR mark was formed in 1992 to ensure an easily understandable way for consumers to choose more sustainable devices.
Rated products must meet both power efficiency and consumer requirements in regards to performance and attributes.
The qualifications for the ENERGY STAR mark vary between different appliances. In order to gain the rating, household appliances are required to be at least a certain percentage more efficient than the standard product in their grouping.
This means, not all ENERGY STAR marked appliances are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. I.e a washing machine that is 12% more efficient and one that is 22% more efficient might get the certification. Therefore although looking out for the rating is a good first step, it is still worth checking the actual energy savings before making your final choice.
Low energy devices really do make a impression on an individual and international level, saving you money over time and conserving both energy and resources.
If you are shopping for a new appliance have a look at the EnergyGuide label. This label tells you the cost of energy an appliance uses and makes it easier to contrast makes and styles.
You might also want to know how much your electricity costs you so you can make better comparisons.
Size counts when it comes to appliances. For example:
Devices use more energy as they deteriorate so replace over 10 years old first and if you can, focus on the items that contribute most to your overall energy usage.
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