Energy experts reveal the household appliances that could be secretly driving up your energy bills
With energy bills still putting pressure on households across the UK, many people are looking for ways to reduce their electricity usage and save money.
Now, energy experts at Uswitch have compiled a list of the household appliances which could be unknowingly increasing utility bills as 97% of households admit to misusing appliances, leading to avoidable costs[1]. Revealing the appliances with the highest energy consumption, the experts have calculated roughly how much this costs the average household per year, with tips to reduce consumption.
Tumble Dryer - £150.19 per year
"Keep your tumble dryer in a warm room. It will take longer to heat up if kept in an outdoor shed. Make sure to give items a decent shake when transferring from the washer to the dryer to prevent tangled items from taking longer to dry, and make the most of residual heat by doing all your drying in one day to take advantage of the heat that has built up in the machine."
Electric Hob - £81.24 per year
"Always match the size of your pan to the amount of food you're cooking to ensure that you use less energy in heating a bigger surface area than you need to. Similarly, when you've selected your pan, ensure to use the right size hob for it. More flame than you need will waste energy, and a pan that's too big will take longer to get to the right temperature. Lastly, make sure you clean heating rings regularly - any food that sticks to the ring will absorb heat, making it less efficient."
Kettle - £80.28 per year
"Two thirds of people (68%) overfill the kettle[1]. If you're using the kettle to boil water, avoid overfilling it."
TV - £8.43 per year
"With over 22.5 hours of TV watched by the average British household per week in 2020, it can be one of the biggest energy-using appliances in the house. Of course, the best way to save energy is to switch off your TV completely when no one's watching - this will do a lot to reduce energy usage. When the TV's on, turn down its brightness setting, as the factory settings are typically brighter than necessary for most homes."
Electric Shower - £200.69 per year
"A water-efficient shower head will cut down the amount of hot water you use, but still feel like a strong shower. If you're concerned about the amount of water you're using, look at investing in one - it could save you £65 a year. Use a shower timer to help you save water and money by cutting time off every shower. According to energy saving statistics, keeping your shower time down to four minutes can save residents in Great Britain up to £60 per year."
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, says:
"With the cost of living and high energy rates putting a squeeze on household budgets, many of us are trying to find ways to cut down on our energy bills. It's easy to think that small appliances may not have a big impact on your overall energy bill, but surprisingly, they can often have the most impact. In fact, research shows that 97% of households are guilty of misusing appliances and losing hundreds a year on their energy bills as a result[1].
"Getting used to turning off electrical items at the plug sockets after use; making sure lights are turned off if rooms aren't being used; and using more energy-efficient appliances wherever possible can all shave pounds off your bills."
To learn more about which appliances use the most energy and to calculate household appliance costs in your home, visit the Uswitch website.
