Due to rising electricity prices, many people are switching to energy efficient devices. These efficient devices consume less energy and make you earn more future savings. Not all energy saving devices are made the same, and each appliance must be selected carefully.

Sincere there are so many different energy saving appliances on the market, it can be difficult to know which device works best for you. Here is everything you know to know about purchasing the perfect energy saving device. 

What Are Energy Saving Devices? 

Energy saving devices are also sometimes called smart devices. These devices allow added functionality that is not available in standard appliances. With a smart device, you can get much more precise control over your energy consumption. 

Most smart devices use a network connection to work. This type of connection includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other such networks. With a network connection, you can link multiple other appliances, including heating, lighting, security, and entertainment. Therefore with just one energy saving device, you can access multiple other devices in your home. 

You can control these devices with a smartphone, tablet, etc. Some energy saving devices for homes can also be operated with voice controls through a home assistant hub. Once you create a link between all your electronic devices, you can start home automation. 

What Is Home Automation?

Home automation refers to the automatic control of electronic appliances and devices in your home. These appliances are connected to the internet, which allows you to control them remotely. With home automation, a single device can control other devices; therefore, you don’t have to manually control multiple devices. 

For example, with a smart socket and switch, you can control your lighting, ceiling fan, and any other plugged-in devices. With home automation devices, you can also set up schedules so that these appliances operate according to specific times. 

Home automation devices are important as they make life more convenient and help you save energy costs. These devices are designed to consume less energy than standard devices, and you can expect to save significantly on heating, electricity, and cooling bills. These energy saving devices can also provide better security due to the Internet of Things. 

What is the Internet Of Things?

The Internet of Things, also known as IoT, is any device that is connected to the internet when it normally shouldn’t be. For example, a smart light bulb that can be turned on/off through an app is considered a part of IoT. 

It is important to note that IoT refers to the devices themselves, whereas home automation refers to what you can do with these devices. Home automation is a great way to start building up a smart home system. 

What To Look For When Purchasing Energy Saving Devices?

When you are buying a new appliance or device for your home, it is important you check the energy label. The energy label tells you how much energy that device uses, and you can use this information to compare similar devices. 

If you are looking to purchase energy saving devices for homes or offices, it is crucial that you check the energy label before making a purchase. Apart from the label, you must also consider the size of the appliance you need.

How Do Energy Labels Work?

An energy label on an appliance contains a lot of useful information that can determine how much energy the product consumes. In the UK, almost all electronic household appliances come with an energy label to help you make the right decisions. 

Manufacturers conduct various tests and trials on these products before giving them a label; therefore, you can be assured that the energy label provides accurate and reliable information. By 2021, electronic appliances will come with a rating on a scale of A to G. 

Along with the scale, consumers can also see an illustration depicting a colour scale corresponding to the rating. The updated energy label A stands for green which means that the device is energy efficient. G corresponds to the colour red, which means that the device is not a good energy saver. 

Some appliances use an older rating scale running from A+++ to G, with A+++ being the more energy efficient. However, the older energy labels have been largely discontinued as they don’t provide clear information regarding energy consumption. Apart from the rating scale, the label provides several other pieces of information. 

The energy label also comes with a QR code that provides more information on the product. Consumers can simply scan the QR code and get more specifications and details on the products directly from the manufacturers. 

The labels also display a few pictograms that give illustrative information about the product. Some old pictograms are still used in new energy labels. However, these labels also carry a new set of pictograms. If you want a clear indication of how much energy the appliance consumes, the new energy label provides this information for you. 

These labels prominently indicate the energy consumption of the product in the middle section of the label. The energy consumption is often indicated as kWh per year, kWh per 100 cycles, or kWh per 1000 hours. This data depends on the product group. 

If you prefer purchasing your products online, you can still access energy label data; manufacturers put a simplified version of the full energy label for online products. For example, a product with a B score will display only the rating grade and its corresponding colour. However, once you click on this label, you can access the full version of the energy label. 

From 2021, the new label will appear on devices such as domestic refrigerators and freezers, light sources, washing machines, washer-dryers, televisions, and dishwashers. 

How Does Sizing Affect Energy Consumption?

When looking for energy saving devices for your home, you need to consider the size of the appliance you wish to purchase. For instance, if you purchase a large family-sized dishwasher but never fill it up with dirty dishes, you will be wasting energy and, ultimately, money on your electricity bills. 

Apply this rule to any other electronic appliance you purchase, from electric kettles to washing machines. Make sure only to buy the appropriate appliances as larger products will consume much more energy and cost even more in the long run. 

Generally, most appliances are categorised according to their size. This means that two different sized devices with the same energy rating might use different amounts of energy. 

For example, a 70 kg 265-litre fridge and freezer with a G rating might cost around £80 to run; however, a larger 424-litre fridge/free with a better rating could cost you around £90 per year to run. 

Therefore, it is important that you take both the size and the energy rating into consideration before purchasing a product. These factors could determine the energy saving potential of the device. 

Other Ways To Find Energy Saving Devices

Apart from reading the label and purchasing the correct appliance, there are several others ways of getting the best energy saving devices on the market. Here are some things you should consider before purchasing energy saving devices. 

Don’t Let Appliances Run On Standby Mode.

An average household in the UK spends £55 per year powering appliances left on standby mode. This figure highlights how a significant portion of energy costs are wasted annually. 

Homeowners can greatly benefit from purchasing devices that either shut off completely or avoid going into standby mode. Standby mode refers to the energy used by a certain device when it is not operating and also does not switch off at the plug. 

Apart from electrical devices on standby mode, there are several other devices that consume levels of energy. These include broadband modems, broadband routers, telephones, smart speakers, etc. Most people don’t think about switching these devices off as they are often needed for 24 hours a day. 

However, even if these devices are not actively being used, they still consume unnecessary energy. To overcome this problem, you do not need to replace these devices or completely power them off. There are a number of other products available that help you cut down standby energy consumption significantly. 

Such devices include standby saver products that allow you to turn off all appliances from standby simultaneously. Some devices come with a timer that sets an operation schedule for the device, while others come with a single off switch that completely powers off the device. 

Many government regulations are also encouraging manufacturers to avoid designing products that take up too much standby power. EU regulations in 2013 stated that non-networked electrical devices should not consume more than 0.5W energy on standby mode. 

Comparatively, network-connected devices such as gaming consoles and televisions could only consume standby energy between 3-12W, depending on the appliance. 

Despite these regulations, it is important you check all the specifications regarding the standby energy consumption of a product your might purchase. You should also visit the manufacturer’s website to gain more information on this topic.

Reduce Your Laundry Costs

When it comes to washing machines or washer-dryers, it is important that you purchase a product with an A energy rating. Even if this product costs more than a standard washing, it will provide you with many more benefits in the long run. 

Most washer-dryers can be expensive to run as they are not very energy efficient. Therefore, you must purchase a washing machine with a high rating on the energy label. For even more energy efficiency, you can try drying clothes on a washing line instead of using a tumble dryer. This method is highly economical and consumes no electrical energy. 

You can also purchase indoor drying racks to dry your clothing; however, this method might increase the moisture level of your home. If you prefer a dryer, look for a product that has added efficiency functionality. 

Some dryers include a sensor feature that lets you know when your clothes are dry enough. This feature will prevent you from wasting energy by overdrying on your clothing. Electric heat pump tumble dryers are also extremely efficient because they recycle the heat from the ventilation tube back into the dryer. 

This process happens after the water vapor is removed from the air. Gas tumble dryers are also less energy consuming, but they are expensive to install and require a gas connection. 

Purchase Efficient Refrigerators and Freezers

Refrigerators and freezers are two of the most important appliances in a household as they are 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These are also some of the longest-lasting appliances in any household. Therefore, it is important to look for energy efficient models to save on utility. As mentioned before, you must refer to the energy label when purchasing these appliances. 

If you choose a higher-rated fridge/freezer, it will have a significant impact on your operational costs.

 If you opt for a lower-rated fridge such as an F or D-rated appliance, you will save approximately £570 in energy bills over the lifetime of the product. However, since the size is also an important component of energy efficiency, it is important to note that a smaller fridge will cost less to run. 

But a larger fridge with a similar energy rating will cost much for energy in the long run. So, when purchasing an energy efficient fridge/freezer, you must weigh both the energy rating and the size to make the best choice. Energy labels provide consumption in kWh/annum to help you estimate what running each product might cost. 

Consider Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Light sources are another important device, and many households and not efficient light bulbs can waste a lot of energy. LEDs are one of the most efficient light bulbs.  LED stands for light emitting diode, and this LED mechanism uses electricity to produce illumination. 

Since LED technology is rapidly advancing, there is a wide choice of energy saving LED light bulbs. Even though LED bulbs have a high upfront cost, they are cheaper than other light bulbs energy saving due to their longer life span. 

LED light bulbs to save up to 75% more energy than regular light bulbs, and they last 25 times longer, so you don’t have to spend much money on replacements. LED bulbs last longer because of their structural components. LED luminaries do not produce any heat like incandescent light bulbs, which ruin that bulbing lighting capacity. If you are starting out with energy efficient products, LED bulbs are a great way to begin. You can easily replace your existing light bulbs with an LED.

What Are The Best Energy Saving Devices?

At Meteor Electrical, you can find several energy-saving devices that provide convenience and reliability. You can find several types of efficient products, from energy-saving light sources to smart switches and sockets.  

Visit Meteor to purchase our diverse range of high-quality products. Here are some of the best energy saving devices Meteor has to offer. 

Light Sources

1. Kosnic 9W Energy Saving Bayonet Light Bulbs In Warm White

Kosnic is one of the leading brands in LED technology, and their 9W bayonet lamp contains all the useful energy saving features. The 9W light bulb comes in a warm white shade which makes it ideal for domestic applications. These 9W lamps can significantly reduce your energy consumption when compared to traditional light bulbs. 

Since this bulb uses an LED, you get high-grade brightness. Despite the high energy savings, this light fixture only costs £2.87, making it one of the cheapest energy saving light bulbs on the market. 

2. Kosnic 4.5W Warm White Lamp

This Kosnic LED lamp has high intensity bright of 340 lumens. This high brightness lamp works best for both household use and hospitality applications. Despite the intense brightness, you won’t have to worry about energy consumption with this light bulb. The Kosnic 4.5W lamp has a lifespan of over 30,000 hours which means you will save money on bulb replacement costs.

Check out our blog on Smart Lighting and Energy Saving Lights. 

Smart Sockets And Switches

1. Knightsbridge 13A Smart Switched Socket

If you want a smart switch and a socket, you should opt for the Knightbridge 13A smart switched socket as this provides both capabilities. This all-in-one device lets you control your devices from anywhere with the help of your smartphone. 

The Knightbridge switched socket can withstand 13 amps of electrical devices. This switch/socket can be connected to the Wi-Fi and is also compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. 

Check out our blog on Everything you need to know about Smart Switches and Sockets! 

2. Knightsbridge 16A Smart Plug

This 16A smart plug is conveniently shaped and sized, which means you can fit it anywhere in your home. The Knightbridge 16A plug can be controlled via an app on your smartphone and is also compatible with a home assistant for added functionality. 

This device has an IP rating of 20 which means it is dustproof. This smart socket will help you remotely control all your appliances. As mentioned before, standby power is a major source of energy consumption in most households, but with a smart plug, you can avoid this issue.

Check out our blogs on What is a Smart Plug and Does Smart Plugs save Energy! 

Electric And Water Heaters

1. ATC 1800W iLifestyle Smart Radiator

The ATC 1800W iLifestyle smart radiator is an award-winning heating solution that lets you heat up your home efficiently. This smart heater comes with Wi-Fi connectivity so that you can control your heating via remote control. ATC’s heater comes with 3 operating modes - eco, comfort, and frost, and the PID intelligent control is accurate to 0.2 degrees Celsius. For added functionality, this heating unit is compatible with multiple home assistant devices. 

Check out our blog on Smart Heaters! 

2. ATC 14 Litre Under Sink Water Heater

The ATC 14-litre under sink water heater is an efficient way to heat up your water. A lot of energy is wasted through inefficient water heaters. However, with this appliance, you can control exactly how much water you want to use without wasting any energy. This heater can be wall-mounted, and it comes with a compact that size fits any home. In the long run, the ATC water heater is more cost-effective than a traditional water heating system. 

We have a blog on 10 Tips to Save Heat Energy! 

Final Takeaway

Energy saving devices are a great way to make meaningful changes to your household's energy consumption. Before you purchase energy saving products, be sure to follow or helpful to find the best product for you.