Energy Efficient Appliances And How To Cut Running Costs

Choosing energy efficient appliances is one of the simplest ways to cut the electricity your home uses, because the big machines in your kitchen and utility room run day in, day out for years. This guide explains how the A to G energy label works, what it tells you for each type of appliance, how to think about running costs before you buy, and the everyday habits that make the biggest difference once the appliance is plugged in.

Why Energy Efficient Appliances Matter

An energy efficient appliance does the same job, whether that is washing a load of towels or keeping milk cold, while using less electricity. That means lower bills over the life of the machine and less demand on the grid.

The Energy Saving Trust groups the biggest users in a typical home. Washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers together make up the largest share of the bill, followed closely by fridges and freezers, which have to stay switched on all the time. TVs and other electronics, lighting, and cooking appliances such as ovens, microwaves and kettles make up smaller slices.

So the machines worth thinking hardest about are the ones that run often or never switch off. A small improvement on a fridge freezer adds up because it is working every hour of every day.

How The A To G Energy Label Works

Most large appliances sold in the UK carry an energy label showing an efficiency class from A (the most efficient, dark green) to G (the least efficient, red). According to GOV.UK, labels for dishwashers, washing machines, washer dryers, fridges and freezers, electronic displays such as TVs, and light sources have all been rescaled to this simpler A to G system.

The old labels had drifted into A+, A++ and A+++ because appliances had improved so much that most models crowded the top of the scale. The rescaled labels spread them out again and leave room at the top for future improvements. The Energy Saving Trust points out that a product rated A under the old system could now be rated F under the new one, so a lower letter on a new label does not mean the machine is worse than an older one you owned.

Labels sold in Great Britain show the model number and supplier, the efficiency class, energy consumption figures and a row of pictograms with product-specific details. Many also carry a QR code you can scan with your mobile to see more information about the model. You can read the official requirements in the GOV.UK guidance on the energy labelling of products.

Not every appliance moved to the new scale at the same time. Which? notes that tumble dryers, ovens and some other appliances kept their existing labels when the first rescaled labels arrived, so you may still see A+++ style ratings on those. Compare like with like: a tumble dryer label and a washing machine label are not on the same scale.

What The Energy Label Shows For Each Appliance

The efficiency class is only the headline. The figures underneath are what help you compare two models properly.

Washing Machines And Washer Dryers

• Energy consumption per 100 cycles, which is easier to relate to how often you actually wash than a yearly figure.
• Capacity in kilograms, cycle length and water use per cycle, all measured on the eco 40-60 programme.
• A spin drying class from A to G, which tells you how much water the spin leaves in your clothes.
• Noise in decibels, plus a noise class from A (quietest) to D.

Dishwashers

• Energy use per 100 cycles on the eco programme.
• Capacity in place settings.
• Water use per cycle and the length of the eco cycle.
• Noise in decibels and a noise class from A to D.

Fridges, Freezers And Wine Coolers

• Energy consumption per year in kWh.
• The volume of the chilled and frozen compartments in litres (wine coolers show how many standard bottles they hold).
• Noise in decibels and a noise class.

TVs And Other Screens

TV labels show the energy class and consumption in standard mode and, where the set supports it, when showing HDR content, along with the screen size and resolution.

One thing to keep in mind: Which? points out that the official washing machine rating is largely based on the eco programme and higher temperature washes, while many households wash at 40C. The label is a fair comparison between models, but your own habits decide what the machine really uses at home. For more on this, see our guide to choosing the right washing machine temperature setting.

Thinking About Running Costs Before You Buy

The efficiency class tells you how well an appliance uses energy for its size. It does not tell you how much it will use in total. When shopping for energy efficient appliances, the Energy Saving Trust warns that one of the most common mistakes is buying an appliance that is bigger than you need because it has a better rating. A large A rated fridge freezer can still use more electricity than a smaller model with a lower class.

A better approach:

• Size first. Work out the capacity your household genuinely needs, then look for the most efficient model at that size.
• Compare the kWh figure. Put the yearly or per 100 cycle kWh numbers side by side. That figure, multiplied by your unit rate, is what shows up on your bill.
• Think lifetime, not price tag. A more efficient model can cost more to buy, but fridges, washing machines and tumble dryers are kept for many years, so the running cost difference builds up over time.
• Check extra features. For tumble dryers, the Energy Saving Trust suggests looking for a moisture sensor or a heat pump model. For ovens, fan-assisted models and well insulated, triple-glazed doors help, and a microwave is often more efficient for small portions because it heats the food rather than the air around it.

Everyday Tips To Cut Appliance Energy Use

Even the most energy efficient appliances rely on good habits, so how you use them matters just as much. These are the habits the Energy Saving Trust recommends.

Laundry

• Wash at 30C instead of higher temperatures for everyday loads. New machines also have a 20C option, which suits lightly soiled items.
• Avoid half loads. If you cannot wait for a full drum, use the half load programme if your machine has one.
• Do not overload either. Leaving roughly a hand’s width at the top of the drum lets water and detergent move properly, so you are less likely to need a rewash.
• Dry clothes on a line outdoors in warmer weather, or on an airer indoors, rather than using the tumble dryer.

Dishwashers

• Only run the dishwasher when it is full so it runs less often.
• Use the eco programme where you have one. It takes longer, but the label figures are based on it for a reason. Our guide to dishwasher programmes explains the different settings.

Kitchen And Electronics

• Boil only the water you need rather than filling the kettle every time.
• Use the microwave for reheating and small portions instead of heating the whole oven.
• Switch appliances off at the plug rather than leaving them on standby. The Energy Saving Trust says almost all electrical appliances can be turned off at the plug without upsetting their programming.
• Fridges and freezers need to stay on, so the aim is to help them work less: choose the right size, and keep the door closed as much as you can so the cold stays in.

Repair, Replace Or Recycle?

Swapping a working appliance for a more efficient one is not always the greenest or cheapest choice, as making a new machine uses resources too. If an appliance develops a fault, it is often worth getting it looked at before you give up on it; if you are in Merseyside or West Lancashire, Appliance Repair Men can assess whether a repair makes sense. Always unplug an appliance before any cleaning or checks, and leave anything beyond simple user maintenance, such as filter cleaning, to a qualified engineer.

When an appliance really has reached the end of its life, it should not go in your general waste. Recycle Now advises taking electricals to your local household waste recycling centre, an electrical bring bank or a retailer that offers take-back, and some councils collect small electricals from the kerbside. Anything with a plug, battery or cable counts.

Quick Checklist For Energy Efficient Appliances

• Check the efficiency class, then compare the kWh figure, not just the letter.
• Buy the size you need rather than the biggest model with a good rating.
• Remember that tumble dryers and ovens may still use the older label scale.
• Wash at 30C, run full loads and use eco programmes.
• Air-dry where you can and only boil the water you need.
• Switch off at the plug instead of leaving things on standby.
• Get faults checked before replacing, and recycle old electricals properly.

Small changes to what you buy and how you use it add up over the years your appliances are in service. You will find more practical home guides at Beyond The Garden Gates.

Kaan Rassad

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