Appliance Energy Consumption

Over 13% of the energy we use in our homes is to power the electrical products and appliances we use on a daily basis. Much of the power we need is for our “white goods”; these are fridges, freezers, washing machines and dishwashers.

The way in which we use them could help save money on fuel bills while also helping the environment.

Fridges and Freezers

These items work the hardest. They run 365 days a year, 24 hours per day in order to keep our food cool or frozen. Since 2002 all fridges and freezers have to be regulated by the Energy Efficiency Recommended labelling scheme which informs us how much energy the product will use and how efficiently with a rating of A to G.

Over £1.2 billion is spent on powering our fridges and freezers every year and if we have an A rated appliance we could be saving up to £70 on our electricity.

To help reduce the amount of work our fridges and freezers need to do there are some simple rules to follow to help save more on your electricity bills:

• Only open the doors when absolutely necessary and never leave open. The product has to work harder to keep temperatures cool.
• Regularly defrost your freezer
• Ensure they positioned away from heating or cookers
• Do not put hot food into the fridge or freezer as it will raise the temperature

Dishwashers

It is a common myth that dishwashers use more water than hand washing. However studies have shown that if dishwashers are used efficiently, less water is used than frequent hand washing of dishes. Dishwashers can save up to £15 per year of electricity if used correctly.

Here are some tips:

• Only use when the dishwasher is full
• Do not rinse plates beforehand
• Switch from cold water feed to hot water feed (see manufacturer guidelines)

Washing Machines

The average household performs 270 wash cycles every year and therefore uses a lot of electricity. It is important to purchase an A rated energy efficient recommended washing machine to ensure you are not wasting energy or money. There are also several tips which will help you save more:

• Only wash full loads
• Wash at 30 degrees
• Do not use a drying cycle
• Wash clothes on the economy cycle
• Use a high spin setting to reduce the amount of water retained in clothes

If you only wash clothes at 30 degrees you could reduce the amount of electricity you need by 30%.

General Electrical Items

The simple thing to remember for every other appliance or product you have around the home is to switch them off when not in use and if possible remove from plug sockets. Items include;

• Television (s)
• Video or DVD
• Satellite or Digibox
• PC, monitor and peripherals
• Mobile phone charger
• Hi Fi, Radio, CD player
• Cooker, kettle, toaster, microwave

You can purchase energy savers and stand-by products which will cut off the electricity supply if you forget to switch items off or they are left on stand-by. See our Saving Energy Device page for more details.

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