Here are five essential reasons why you should repair your appliances consistently with a professional appliance repair company. Household appliances have made our lives much more comfortable, but they also require routine maintenance to avoid breakdowns. If maintenance is neglected, small faults or the accumulation of debris can cause serious problems and excessive energy use. Plus, investing in routine appliance maintenance can save you money in the long run.
Still not convinced? Here are four important reasons why you should repair your appliances routinely. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a public health challenge around the world, it has also abruptly affected economies, society and people's lives. With many people confined to their homes, working remotely and studying at home, interest in appliances and consumer electronics has increased. It is vital that the new appliances purchased during the pandemic and after it are as efficient as possible to overcome higher ownership patterns and avoid an increase in energy consumption levels after the crisis.
Measures to contain the virus have led to a decrease in energy demand and the corresponding CO2 emissions. Although activity has declined in industry, businesses and transport, the residential sector has gained more prominence and household energy use patterns have changed. These changes can continue in the long term and be integrated into new lifestyles, since the current situation influences the new normal. The crisis has promoted the introduction of new technologies for educational purposes, according to a recent OECD survey, and many students now have computers and Internet access for the first time.
Households where several members have to work remotely or study at home at the same time have had to adapt by purchasing additional computers and other office equipment, such as printers and monitors. The extra time spent indoors also leads to changes in comfort requirements. Small appliances and consumer electronics have become more important for everyday life, such as those used for entertainment (p. ex.
televisions and media players) and kitchen (p. Rising health problems can also increase demand for devices such as air filtration systems. The increase in time spent at home is increasing energy consumption. In the case of remote work, this increase can be offset by lower energy consumption in offices and a large reduction in the use of fuel for commuting.
In recent months, there has been a notable increase in public interest in the acquisition of household appliances. One way to measure public interest is to look at the Google Trends Search Volume Index (SVI). The following figures compare global interest in recent months for four types of equipment (computers, televisions, microwaves and mixers) in the “shopping” category, compared to last year. The data do not reflect actual sales, but they do show that interest in household appliances has increased since the start of the lockdown period.
These trends become particularly relevant given that electrical appliances 1 are the second largest final use of residential energy in IEA member countries. They consume more than 20% of total residential energy (after space heating), a proportion that has been increasing over the past few decades. Up to 30% of household carbon emissions come from the use of electrical appliances (2 for detailed data on energy end use and emissions in all sectors, see the new edition of the IEA Energy Efficiency Indicator Data Service). Globally, residential appliances represent about 15% of the global final demand for electricity, or a quarter of the electricity used in buildings.
If space heating or cooling equipment were considered, these proportions would be significantly higher. Although the residential sector has benefited from significant improvements in energy efficiency, the increased use of appliances, the increase in the ownership of appliances and the increase in the number of homes have increased energy consumption, which has offset the benefits derived from the spread of more efficient equipment. In recent years, the number of appliances per household has increased markedly in most types of appliances, especially computers and other information and communication technology equipment. It is important that the new appliances purchased to improve the quality of life during and after the pandemic, and to adapt to changes in behavior and lifestyle, are efficient.
More efficient appliances are needed to overcome higher ownership patterns and avoid an increase in consumption after the crisis, since the new equipment purchased is likely to be used for a few years. The extensive program of MEPs from the People's Republic of China began in 1989, with eight types of devices initially covered. The performance requirements and the type of devices included have increased significantly since. These programs have increased the energy efficiency of the products sold, while the typical purchase price of regulated products has continued to fall.
Energy efficiency can play a key role in responding to the current crisis and recovery. With proper planning, governments can create the right incentives and incorporate efficiency into their economic stimulus packages. This is relevant not only to ensure that recovery plans address the long-term challenge of climate change, but also because energy efficiency can contribute significantly to economic recovery. Demand for more efficient appliances, for example, can boost the manufacturing industry by creating jobs and reducing prices and, ultimately, increasing the adoption of efficient appliances by households around the world.
Efficient appliances also benefit end consumers, as they help them to save on energy bills, a key consideration in a context of economic crisis in which many people have lost at least part of their income. With emissions from electricity generation reallocated to end uses of final consumption. .
