In the midst of an energy crisis the only way to deal with rising costs is, in the end, judicious consumption. Experts claim that simply paying attention to the appliances we use; we can save at least a few hundred euros annually.
Reducing the amount of electricity used at home can contribute greatly to keeping bills at affordable levels. One of the best ways to do so, is to check the energy efficiency of household appliances. Energy rating labels were originally implemented by the EU in 1995, ranking appliances from A+++ to D, but a new system was introduced in 2020, a scale from A to G, something about a third of consumers do not understand, according to Uswitch.
“In March 2021, these extra ratings were scrapped and the system now runs from A to G, as it originally did. However, the ‘A’ rating is reserved, so a product may go from being ‘A+++’ rated under the previous system down to a B, C or even a D in the new system. Many shops are still selling appliances with labels showing the old rating system, which can be confusing for customers unsure what they should be looking for. While it’s possible to save on the initial purchase of the appliance, an inefficient appliance will then cost more to run over its lifetime,” states the website.
Always read the label before choosing an appliance because it will tell you how energy-efficient it is and, therefore, give you a rough idea of how much it might cost you. If the appliance has the new label, ensure that it has the A band (or as close to A as possible), as this is the most energy efficient.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch said: “You might save yourself a hundred pounds by getting a budget appliance, but you could be left paying a hefty energy bill as some devices can cost five times as much to run as their more energy efficient alternatives. You might save yourself a hundred pounds by getting a budget appliance, but you could be left paying a hefty energy bill.”
“How quickly a more efficient appliance pays for itself depends on the product, but sometimes low-energy devices can cost the same as gadgets that will run up three times the energy bill.”
Ben Gallizzi
The biggest consumer in any household is the fridge that runs 24 hours a day. Depending on its energy class, it can cost between £36.72 and £97.92 to run for a year. In the case of the electric oven, a household might cut its costs by up to six times if switching to an air fryer.
Source: thesun.co.uk
