
10 home appliance ‘energy guzzlers’
In this news article, a spokesperson for Uswitch.com looks at home appliances that are energy guzzlers.
As energy costs are predicted to hit phenomenal prices this year, many of us are looking for ways to lower bills by reigning in our gas and electricity usage.
But by knowing how much we can save our wallets, it is also good to know how it is saving the planet too.
Energy use in our homes is the second largest contributor of CO2, only behind that of the transport industry.
Uswitch.com have revealed the small changes that can be made at home to save the planet and save on your bills.
Top Ten Home Appliance Energy Guzzlers:
Which items can you cut back on to save your wallet and planet the most? [ Zero-net study figures).
Appliance | Cost per week per household (GBP) | Cost per week per household (EUR) | Cost per year per household (GBP) | Cost per year per household (EUR) | Kgs of CO2 Emitted Each Week |
Electric shower | £3.07 | €3.51 | £159.43 | €182.05 | 3.3836 |
Gas hob | £2.76 | €3.15 | £143.28 | €163.60 | 3.0409 |
Electric hob | £2.44 | €2.79 | £126.85 | €144.84 | 2.692 |
Built-in air con system | £2.05 | €2.34 | £106.40 | €121.49 | 2.2582 |
Kettle | £1.47 | €1.68 | £76.51 | €87.36 | 1.6238 |
Tumble dryer | £1.37 | €1.56 | £71.47 | €81.61 | 1.5167 |
Plug-in electric heater | £0.95 | €1.08 | £49.41 | €56.42 | 1.0485 |
Electric barbeque | £0.95 | €1.08 | £49.28 | €56.27 | 1.0458 |
Hot tub | £0.89 | €1.02 | £46.16 | €52.71 | 0.9795 |
Iron | £0.76 | €0.87 | £39.27 | €44.84 | 0.8334 |
How to use your appliances to reduce usage and CO2 around the home:
- Gas hob: Rather than boiling water directly on the hob, it’s quicker and more energy-efficient to use the kettle to boil water and transfer it to a pan on the hob for steaming and boiling;
- Electric hob: If you have an electric hob, use flat-bottomed pans – the fuller contact the pan has with the ring, the more evenly the heat will spread through it;
- Shower: Use a shower timer to help you save water and money by cutting time off every shower. A four-minute shower could save an average household £70 a year on energy bills;
- Tumble dryer: Clean tumble dryer filters regularly to ensure they are free from fluff – this will help the machine operate more efficiently.
- Kettle: If you are using the kettle to boil water, avoid overfilling it – this could save £11 a year on your electricity bills;
- Electric heater: Make sure the room you’re looking to heat has the doors and windows closed and is optimally placed (ideally under a window);
- Hot tub: If you are lucky enough to have a pool or a hot tub, keep them covered when you are not using them. Keeping the heat trapped underneath a cover means you will have to spend less energy heating them up. You might also want to invest in solar covers that heat the water;
- Iron: Minimise time spent ironing by ensuring it is clean and ready to go before turning it on.
To help people navigate their bills and see the benefits their behavioural changes have on the environment, our Road to Net Zero tool shows how the home energy industry is doing in reducing emissions.