At a Glance:
What Are Energy-Efficient Appliances?
Is It Worth Buying Energy-Efficient Appliances?
How To Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances
What Three Appliances Use the Most Energy?
Our Top Three Energy-Efficient Appliances
It seems like more and more, the world is progressing toward cleaner, safer ways to live. While there are many different aspects to creating a healthy environment and a greener planet, one area in which most homeowners can do their part is owning energy-efficient appliances. Today we are going to look at the basics of energy-efficient appliances are, and how they can help save you money, among many other economic and environmental benefits.
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Looking for your next energy-efficient appliance? Check out Appliances at BlvdHome today!
Discover AppliancesWhat Are Energy-Efficient Appliances?
Your appliances account for 10-30% of your yearly electricity bills, meaning the type of appliances you use in your home could be the difference between saving significantly or shelling out large amounts of money per year for electricity. Kind of astonishing, right? In 1975 the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), was implemented and imparted the U.S. Department of Energy to begin placing efficiency standards on both residential business-operated appliances.
These standards compel manufacturers to create appliances that reduce the amount of energy used, while still ensuring proper and efficient use of that appliance. Energy-efficient appliances use certain technologies that are designed to be less energy intensive, thus reducing the amount of electricity used per product.
These terms, Acts, implementations, regulations, and standards can seem a bit overwhelming, especially when you just want to do your part in conserving energy and saving money. Don’t let these things scare you away, because, simply put, energy-efficient appliances do the same amount of work that non-efficient machines do, all while using fewer Kilowatt hours used for the same amount of time, resulting in less energy used and more money saved.
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Is It Worth Buying Energy-Efficient Appliances?
If you are considering purchasing a new energy-efficient appliance, you may be wondering if the benefits are really that significant. There are a few key things that stand out when looking at the effectiveness and upsides of purchasing energy-efficient appliances.
Energy-Efficient Appliances Save Money
While energy-efficient appliances may be a little more upfront, you ultimately have two price tags you are paying for each appliance you buy. The first one is the store price that you score your appliance for, the second one is the utility bill that you will pay for the next 10-20 of that appliance's life. According to ENERGY STAR, most common households can save $450 on their annual energy bill when switching to energy-efficient appliances.
Energy-Efficient Appliances Save Energy
Since newly updated appliances are designed to do the same amount of work for less energy consumed, it only makes sense that they will then result in less energy used, even if your cooking, cleaning, and heating habits stay the same.
Energy-Efficient Appliances Help the Environment
Investing in energy-efficient appliances means that not only will you save money and energy, but you will also be doing your part in helping the environment. Because these types of appliances are designed with increased efficiency in mind, they use less water, waste less resources, and send less emissions into the atmosphere.
How To Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances
Now that we’ve covered the basics of what energy-efficient appliances are, you may be on alert to if you are hurting or helping yourself when it comes to that yearly electrical bill. Let’s look at how to choose an energy-efficient appliance, what you should be looking for, and what appliance brands to look for. This guide is designed to help you weed out those non-efficient appliances and get yourself on the path to annual savings.
Look for the ENERGY STAR Label
Have you ever found an appliance with that distinguished yellow and black label on it? Maybe you’ve even seen the “ENERGY STAR” certified feature when looking for appliances online? If so, you may be wondering “What are energy star appliances?”, and why is it a big deal? An ENERGY STAR appliance means that said appliance operates within the regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), meaning it consumes less energy than its predecessors while doing the same amount of work. Look for the black and yellow label on the outside of your appliance, which shows you the annual consumption and operating cost.
Look For Smart Applications
Experts have found that appliances that use smart applications tend to use less energy than other energy-efficient appliances. Oftentimes, these smart apps will remind homeowners when to make energy-efficient decisions and use artificial intelligence to send maintenance reminders and updates. Through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, homeowners can remotely control their appliances, while also monitoring their energy consumption.
Consider the Power Source
When looking at the power source of the appliance you want to purchase, it is important to stay towards appliances that are electric, solar, or thermal-powered. These types of energy sources are considered renewable energy sources, which reduces the amount of greenhouse emissions.
Opt For New Appliances Over Second-Hand
We know that purchasing a brand-new appliance is often more expensive upfront but purchasing a second-hand or used appliance oftentimes means forfeiting the new technology engineered into updated appliances that will save you money in the long run.
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What Three Appliances Use the Most Energy?
Shockingly, home appliances account for about 13% of an average home's energy consumption, and most likely you have three of the most energy-consuming appliances in your home right now. Before you start to worry, let’s look at what different home appliance options there are for heaters, water heaters, and cooling appliances, how much you can save, and what an average price range looks like for these types of models.
1. Heaters
Heaters in your home make up about 31.3% of your home's total energy consumption. Research has found that most of the time, the heat is lost mostly due to improper insulation.
2. Water Heaters
The next culprit for the highest energy consumption is your water heater. These appliances use around 13.6% of your annual energy consumption, making it important to find energy-efficient models to save you money.
3. Cooling Appliances
It's a general rule that cooling appliances consume significantly less energy than heating appliances do, but the total energy consumption from cooling appliances still reaches a total of 10.7%. There are significant savings to be made when looking into energy-efficient air conditioning units, as newer units can reach levels of up to 98% efficiency in preserving energy while still cooling your home.
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Our Top Three Energy-Efficient Appliances
Purchasing energy-efficient appliances can save significant amounts of money, converse energy, and improve the environment and your overall life. At Blvd Home, we like to offer you the most energy-efficient refrigerators, dishwashers, and more. So, that being said, let’s look at some different energy-efficient home appliances available in our store, what the possible savings are in that category, and the average price ranges for each category.
1. Dishwashers
Dishwashers consume around 1.2kWh and 1.5kWh per load, translating to around 251.81 kWh per year. Purchasing an energy-efficient model can save you around 8,000 gallons of water annually. ENERGY STAR dishwashers can save you up to 12% of total energy consumed, and 30% of total water used. You can look for savings of up to $35 per year when purchasing an energy-efficient dishwasher.
Average Price Range for Energy-Efficient Dishwasher: $600-$1,100
Fisher & Paykel Series 7 24" Stainless Steel Drawer Dishwasher
Shop this Fisher & Paykel Stainless Steel Drawer Dishwasher
Feel good about saving money with this Fisher & Paykel Series 7 24" Stainless Steel Drawer Dishwasher. Earning an Energy Star Most Efficient rating, this specific dishwasher has been recognized among the most energy-efficient options on the market. Cycles like ECO mode and Delay start are ideal for optimal water and energy consumption.
- Model: DW24UNT2X2
- Dimensions: 36.13” H x 23.5” W x 22.63” D
- Dishwasher Type: Drawer
Standout Features:
- Flexible Loading
- Smart Connection Through the SmartHQ™ app
- Half Load Modifier
2. Refrigerators
Average refrigerators use around 4% of your total energy consumption, and while that might not seem like a large number, it adds up fast. Purchasing an Energy Star Refrigerator can save you more than $220 in a 12-year lifespan, equaling a total of 9% more energy saved than non-efficient models.
Average Price of Energy-Efficient Refrigerators: $800-$3,000, depending on the specific brand and model you purchase.
Beko 16.1 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Free Stainless Steel Freestanding Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
Shop this Beko Counter Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
Save in style with this beautiful Beko 16.1 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Free Stainless Steel Freestanding Bottom Freezer Refrigerator. Innovative features like Beko AeroFlow™ do their part in regulating temperature, minimizing temperature fluctuations, and keeping your favorite greens and produce fresher, for longer.
- Model: BFBF30216SSL
- Dimensions: 69.69” H x 29.75” W x 27.56” D
- Total Capacity: 16.1 Cu. Ft.
Standout Features:
- EverFresh+ Technology
- FreshGuard
- UV LED Lights
3. Dryers
By now we can see that purchasing energy-efficient appliances are of utmost importance in your home. That doesn’t fall short when looking for energy-efficient washers and dryers. Dryers consume around 1800 to 5000 watts of energy, translating to around 1.8 to 5 kWh of electricity. ENERGY STAR dryers use around 20% less energy, saving you around $215 in energy costs over the lifetime of the dryer.
Average Price Range of Energy-Efficient Dryer: $700-$1,000
LG 4.2 Cu. Ft. White Front Load Electric Dryer
Shop this LG Front Load Electric Dryer
The LG's innovative HeatPump™ saves half your energy with every dryer load, making this front-load electric dryer among some of the top-rated ENERGY STAR-certified models on the market today.
- Model: DLHC1455W
- Dimensions: 33.5” H x 24” W x 26.38” D
- Total Capacity: 4.2 Cu. Ft.
Standout Features:
- Tempered Glass Door with Chrome Trim
- ThinQ® Technology with Smart Pairing™
- Smooth Surface Helps Prevent Snags
Why Trust BlvdHome?
The roots of this family business began as early as the pioneer settlement of Southern Utah. One descendant of those 1861 pioneers was Lester Wittwer. In 1928, he started a trucking business with other family members, delivering homegrown fruits and vegetables to many outlying areas. The story of BlvdHome began in 1974 when Lester’s son Tony decided to venture off into the furniture world - with two full-time employees and a small showroom of only 8,000 square feet. Today, BlvdHome has 5 retail locations with over 160,000 sq. ft. of showroom space, located in St. George, Utah, Hurricane, Utah, Cedar City, Utah, Mesquite, Nevada, and a new Las Vegas location. With over 230 amazing team members, BlvdHome continues to deliver on a commitment to customer service that started over 90 years ago.
Shop Appliances at BlvdHome
At BlvdHome, we provide quality name-brand appliances, furniture, and mattresses for great prices. Shop appliances online or visit us today at one of our locations in Utah or Nevada. In the meantime, browse our website to shop BlvdHome Bargain Barn and check out our flooring selections to increase your home value. More available than ever, our experts at BlvdHome are always happy to help you find energy-efficient appliances, whether you call us or use our online chat feature. Contact us today!
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