Are Energy Efficient Appliances Worth?

Are Energy Efficient Appliances Worth the Extra Expense?

Over the last decades, the number of appliances in the average household keeps increasing in such velocity that make us wonder whether or not our homes are green. We keep talking about green ways to lead our lives to save the planet and reduce the family budget, but when it comes to buying a new Energy Star certified fridge, it’s hard to make the decision. It’s no wonder! The greener appliances are, the more they cost. And so, the ultimate question is this: are energy efficient appliance worth the extra expense?

Consider the cost of everyday appliance use instead of the initial price

When you buy and use appliances, you have two different costs to take into account. The first is the initial price tag of the product. The other is the energy consumption of the appliance and thus how much it will impact your utility bills. So, think about that: the initial cost is paid once and it’s over. The energy bills never end. Wouldn’t you want to keep them at the lower levels possible? That’s the gift energy efficient appliances bear.

If you consider that an average home appliance lasts for about 10+ years and is used nearly every day, you only need to do the math to see the great expense. Now, the story with energy efficient appliances is a bit different. Depending on the appliance, the energy label, and the model, they help you save about 10% to 70% energy annually. So, take your old utility bills out and do the math.

There’s more to energy efficient appliances

The reduced utility bills are a good incentive for buying energy efficient appliances, but not the only one. Since the objective of the manufacturers is to produce energy efficient appliances (and not traditional ones), they use the latest technologies and this comes with some extra perks:

• Limited need for home appliance repair.

• Washing machines use less water – and so, you save even more.

• Washers spin at higher speeds and as a result extract more water from the washed clothes which in turn means less time in the dryer.

• Less time in the dryer is good for your clothes and so they don’t wear easily.

• New washing machines don’t need too much detergent and that’s an extra saving.

• New ovens don’t warm up from the outside – a common problem with non-energy efficient ovens especially during the summer when we had to keep the AC running for longer.

• Think about the number of appliances you keep at home. If they were all energy efficient, you wouldn’t only save family money but also the planet. Think about it: less energy, less water, less damage, a better world.

Which appliances are energy hungry?

If you were to choose home appliances, give priority to your dryer, fridge, washer and dishwasher. Dryers consume more energy than any other home appliance. In fact, some traditional models may consume as much energy as all other major appliances in the home combined. That’s a lot and definitely worth getting an Energy Star certified top load dryer. When it comes to refrigerators, you can save even more than 40% energy – it always depends on the energy label, with A+++ being the best choice. With energy efficient washers and dishwashers, you save both energy and water. That’s a win-win.

The cost to buy energy efficient appliances is high. No doubt about that. But it’s worth it, given that you opt for a reliable brand to be sure that your appliance will last for years. This way, you may pay more at the beginning but you will save a lot in the long run and keep the appliance for many years.