How to make household appliances more energy efficient

In modern homes, there are a whole host of appliances which we use regularly; sometimes not considering the amount of energy they require and how much this costs. It’s simply not possible to stop using most of these appliances. But this doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to reduce the amount of energy we’re using and potentially wasting. Here we have listed the most commonly used household appliances on average and given tips on how to make them more energy efficient:

Hot water kettle

There is no doubt our hot water kettles are one of the home’s most frequently used appliances. For a quick cuppa or nice coffee, the majority of us today couldn’t imagine heating water to the boil on the stove! As a frequently used appliance it’s sure to use a considerable amount of energy – but here’s how to reduce that:

• Only boil the water that you need. Filling the kettle up over the amount of water required for drinks is only going to see energy wasted by heating water that isn’t going to be drank.
• Make more than one tea or coffee at a time, and store the extras in a flask for later where it will be kept hot.

Dishwasher

Many of us have got so used to our dishwasher cleaning our plates, cups and cutlery that we’ve forgotten what it was like to wash up! The amount of water and energy required to give the dishwasher’s contents a squeaky clean can be substantial – so here are some tips for reducing this:

• Lower the temperature so the machine requires less power to heat up.
• Only run your dishwasher when it’s full, but ensure there is enough space between plates etc so they are cleaned properly.
• Rinse food off plates before placing in the dishwasher.
• Hand wash dishes which are easier to clean and use the dishwasher for larger, more difficult to wash dishes.

Refrigerator

To keep our food and drink fresh, we rely on our refrigerators around the clock. Here’s how you can make your fridge more energy efficient:

• Ensure your fridge is in a cool place, away from radiators, ovens, stoves and sunlight. A cool environment for your fridge will mean it has to work less hard to cool down.
• Consider upgrading to a more energy efficient model. If you’ve had your fridge for quite some time, it may be worth investing in a newer model to help you save energy.
• Allow hot food to cool down before putting it in the fridge, so other food and drink isn’t impacted by the warmer temperature.

Washing machine

Hand washing clothes is a thing of the past for most of us thanks to our washing machines. But the heat, water and power for the washing machine requires considerable energy – cut this down by using these tips:

• Turn down the temperature – washing machines still perform well on 20 and 30 degree cycles.
• Avoid washing half loads but keep a small amount of space in the drum for water to flow through.
• Consider upgrading to a more energy efficient model – modern advancements to washing machines mean new models are much more efficient.

Tumble dryer

In most houses, the energy usage dial on the smart meter shoots up whenever the tumble dryer is on! This is due to the dryer needing a large amount of electricity at one time to heat clothes and suck water out in tandem. If you use a tumble dryer regularly, here are some tips to make it more energy efficient:

• Use the spin function on your washing machine when a cycle is complete so clothes require less time in the tumble dryer.
• Don’t overload the drum so there is room inside for the water to be pulled out.
• Regularly clean out the evaporator and lint filters – blockages will mean the motor has to work harder.
• Air dry clothes when possible outside when the weather is suitable or in your airing cupboard, instead of relying on the tumble dryer.

There you have it – many ways in which you can use your household appliances in more energy efficient ways. After all, it’s not practical to stop using the majority of these appliances – so we should all consider saving energy when doing so.