Home appliances emphasize power-saving technology amid energy crisis

[Courtesy of Shinil]

As soaring temperatures and a worldwide energy crisis continue to impact South Korea, there has been a sharp increase in interest in energy-efficient home appliances. The government’s recent hike in electricity bills for the second quarter, coupled with memories of last winter’s heating cost debacle, has prompted consumers to be more conscious of their electricity usage.

One appliance gaining popularity is a circulation fan, which creates indoor air circulation using convection currents to distribute cool air from the air conditioner throughout the room quickly. When used in conjunction with an air conditioner, the circulation fan can reduce power consumption by approximately 20 percent compared to using the air conditioner alone.

Notably, sales of energy-efficient foldable circulation fans from Paseco Co. surged by 88 percent from a year ago, even without any specific marketing efforts.

“The concept of combining an energy-saving feature with a foldable design seems to have captured significant attention,” said a Paseco official.

Energy-saving fans have also attracted significant interest. The “wireless BLDC Fan” from Shinil Co. saw two consecutive sell-outs during home shopping broadcasts and achieved more than 1,486 percent of its funding goal on the crowdfunding platform Wadiz in April. Shinil’s spokesperson attributed this demand to the delayed summer heatwaves and electricity price hikes, making energy-efficient cooling devices like the air circulator and fans highly sought after.

Moreover, the trend extends to “zero-energy” products, which require no power consumption. According to Gmarket, the top four best-selling water purifiers last month were all “zero-energy” models. Sales of these purifiers increased by 33 percent this month compared to the previous month. Zero-energy water purifiers use nature-derived ingredient filters to remove chlorine and impurities from tap water without the need for any electrical power. While they may lack features like hot or cold-water functions, these devices are compact, portable, and reduce overall space consumption, making them highly attractive to consumers seeking energy-efficient alternatives.

Beyond zero-energy water purifiers, interest in solar-powered devices like solar car air purifiers, solar sensors, and solar-powered insect repellents has also grown significantly.

Innovative technology has also contributed to reducing power consumption in household appliances. Cuckoo Homesys Co. has developed the “Energy Eye technology,” which automatically enters power-saving mode during periods of non-use. The technology utilizes sensors to detect ambient light levels, allowing appliances like bidets, water and purifiers to minimize energy consumption during low-light nighttime periods or when not in use. This technology was proven to reduce daily standby power consumption by 42 percent compared to previous Cuckoo products.