What uses the most energy in the home?

As we push on toward the colder months of the year, energy use in the home tends to go up. The challenges faced by many households in 2020 gives us additional incentives to keep our energy spend down.

Managing our energy use in the home makes financial sense because if we can reduce our consumption, we should be able to save money in the long term. Not only does it help our bank balances but reduced energy consumption helps the country, as well as the wider world, manage its resources, helping the environment in turn.

In this short guide we will take a look at five of the most electricity hungry appliances in the home, suggesting how their use can be toned down, as well as identifying any potential ways to replace them.

As a general rule, appliances which make things hotter tend to be the most expensive to run. Why? Appliances with a heating element use quite a lot of energy to raise the temperature of water, the air, or in the case of a tumble dryer, your clothes.

1. Fridge freezer

The top appliance for using energy does the opposite of keeping things hot, but keeping the inside of the fridge cool can use lots of energy. In order to maximise the efficiency of your fridge/freezer, there are a number of things you can do. Attempt to keep the fridge door open for as short a time as necessary when taking things out or putting things back in. Try not to put items that are hot in the fridge to cool them down as the fridge will need to work twice as hard to cool the air within. Finally, it could be time to upgrade to a more energy efficient appliance.

2. Tumble dryer

Annoyingly for most of us in the UK, a tumble dryer can add up to £100 per year to your electricity bill. As the weather turns colder and wetter there are fewer opportunities to dry clothes outside, which makes using these appliances more necessary. In order to maximise the efficiency of your dryer, consider running an extra spin cycle on your washing machine and make sure all clothes are untangled before you put them in the dryer. Keeping your lint filter clear will also keep your dryer running efficiently.

3. Electric hobs

These are far more energy hungry than gas hobs. The key to effective use of an electric hob is to ensure that the correct sized ring is used so that no energy is wasted. Also keep a lid on your pots to retain heat more efficiently.

4. The kettle

Nobody can separate an Englishman from his cup of tea and the kettle is responsible for quite a bit of energy usage. Ensure you are only boiling as much water as you need and look out for an energy efficient model if you are in need of a new kettle.

5. Dishwasher

The ultimate labour saving device in the kitchen, a dishwasher can cost quite a bit in energy. Ensure that you are only ever putting a full load on to wash and use an eco or quick wash setting if there is the option. Finally, scraping the plates can help the dishwasher work more efficiently.