Top 10 Most Energy Consuming Home Appliances

What appliances use the most electricity?

Appliances that use the most electricity

1. Tumble Dryer

Tumble dryers have the highest energy-consumption of any household appliance. You could be paying an average of £30.56 each day to dry your clothes and a yearly average of £6.45 to keep the machine on standby.

Luckily, tumble dryers are one appliance that aren’t always essential to use. Where possible, try to dry your clothes outside. This is a free alternative and will leave your clothes with a great, fresh smell.

2. Kettle

Kettles are a quick and easy way to heat water. However, the appliance also consumes the second-highest electricity of any household appliance. The average daily active cost to heat a kettle is £20.38. So how much electricity does a kettle use on standby? You could be facing costs that average £0.74 each year.

A great way to save energy (and money) is to only boil the water you need. You don’t have to fill the kettle entirely; just make sure it has the minimum amount of water required and enough to fill your mug or pan. Turn the power off at the socket after you have finished using the kettle so that it isn’t using electricity on standby.

3. Washing Machine

With an average daily cost of £14.26, washing machines are the third highest energy consumer in most households. Your appliance could be costing you an extra £6.45 per year just by being left on standby.

Using cold water can reduce energy consumption, as can running your washing machine on full loads to maximise efficiency. You could also try to use eco modes and shorter cycles where possible.

4. Microwave

Microwaves are used to quickly and efficiently heat food. Throughout an average day, your microwave could be costing you an incredible £10.19 and an additional £5.95 on average to keep them on standby throughout the year.

You can try to reduce the running costs by adjusting the power setting to match the cooking task as not every item requires the highest setting. You can also replace your old microwave with a newer model that has energy-saving features.

5. Dishwasher

Dishwashers certainly make life easier, but they’re also big energy guzzlers. Your dishwasher could be costing you an average of £8.66 per day through general use and a daily cost of £0.02 to stay on standby. You could also be forking out an average of £7.44 each year to keep your dishwasher on standby.

You can maximise your dishwasher’s efficiency by running full loads. Most dishwashers also have energy-saving options such as ‘eco mode’ and ‘airdry mode’. Use shorter or express wash cycles for lightly soiled dishes too.

6. Video Game Console

Game consoles are one of the cheapest appliances to use in a house, costing around £1.36 per hour. However, they have a high standby cost of £0.08 per hour, which can cost £27.52 annually.

One of the best ways to save energy is to enable the automatic shutoff feature to turn off the console after a period of inactivity. You can also turn down screen brightness and use energy-efficient chargers.

7. Television

Televisions use a lot of energy thanks to their screens. However, different displays (LCD, LED, OLED, plasma) have varying energy requirements. Choosing a smaller TV will save you money as there will be less pixels to illuminate. You can also adjust the screen brightness to save energy; most smart televisions use energy-saving mode that automatically adjusts brightness.

8. Refrigerator

Fridges are essential household appliances that keep food cold and fresh. Unfortunately, keeping them constantly running makes them significant consumers of electricity. Unlike some other household appliances, you can’t turn your fridge off or leave it on standby. Fridges must be kept on 24/7 to regulate their temperature and preserve the food inside them. You could be paying an average of £0.16 per day to keep your fridge on and £56.89 each year.

Although you can’t turn your refrigerator off, there are ways you can reduce their energy consumption. Make sure the fridge is kept in a cool, shaded area away from heat sources, so it doesn’t have to work harder to keep cold. You should also regularly clean the coils, ensure door seals are intact, and defrost the appliance as and when necessary.

Shower

One of the main reasons for the high energy consumption of showers is the energy required to heat the water. High flow rate will also increase consumption as more water is pumped through and heated.

You can reduce the shower’s energy consumption by taking shorter showers, installing low-flow showerheads and taking cooler showers where possible.

Lightbulb

They may be small, but lightbulbs can use a lot of energy. In fact, lighting is one of the biggest uses of electricity in your home. Your best bet to save energy and money is to select energy-efficient bulbs. For example, compact fluorescent lamps use around 70-80% less electricity than the equivalent traditional bulbs.

Radiator

Radiators are essential in colder months to heat our homes. However, they can use a lot of energy unless you opt for an energy-efficient radiator. These radiators are designed to maximise heat output with minimal energy input. They provide even heat distribution throughout the room and typically heat up faster than traditional models, giving you warmth when needed.

The table above shows the most cost-effective heating options available. Halogen heaters are the most affordable option, with a running cost of just £0.42 per hour on a standard meter. However, these heaters also have the lowest heat output with around 1.2kW. Radiant bar fire, convector and fan heaters were the joint most expensive options, each costing £0.68 per hour on a standard meter. To help save more money , it’s a good idea to choose a green radiator. Not only will they save energy but also help your wallet.