How our experts save energy in the kitchen

If you’re replacing your kitchen appliances, do your research to make sure whichever fridge, washing machine or dishwasher you use is fit for purpose. 

Here are two things you should think about when choosing a kitchen appliance: 

• Energy label: this will tell you how energy efficient the appliance is. Here’s what you need to know about energy labels. 
• Size: going for the right sized appliance means you don’t use more energy than you need. 

These two things are related. The energy rating is generally linked to its size. So, if you’re looking at two A-rated products of the same type but one is much bigger, that’s the one that uses more energy.

The letter rating (A–G) is a quick way to compare how efficient appliances are, but it doesn’t tell you exactly how much they use. 

To understand running costs, look at the yearly energy use on the label, shown in kilowatt hours (kWh). This gives an estimate of how much electricity the appliance typically uses in a year. If you multiply this number by your electricity price, you’ll get a rough idea of how much it will cost to run.

However, you can’t just rely on the energy rating when buying products. If the larger product has a better rating than the smaller one, they might cost similar amounts to run.

It can be tricky to find the right product, but that’s why it’s worth looking around for the best option for your needs.

Some kitchen tools are hard to live without. They make our lives easier and make the chores you might dread more convenient. But some small changes in how you use your appliances could help you save money on your energy bills.

Making a cuppa? Only fill the kettle with the water you need and you can save £10 a year in Great Britain (GB) and £12 in Northern Ireland (NI). 

During the warmer months, make the most of the good weather and get the sun to help with the washing.

Drying your clothes outside instead of using a tumble dryer can save:

• £50 a year in GB
• £60 in NI.

These savings assume you dry your usual laundry outside for just three months of the year, instead of using a tumble dryer. 

Also, only using the washing machine or dishwasher for full loads helps save energy too. By doing one fewer load of washing a week and washing at 30°C, you can save £27 a year in GB and £32 in NI. 

ome kitchen appliances, like fridge-freezers, need to be on all the time. But for products that don’t need to be on 24/7, switching them off standby can help save energy. These include: 

• dishwashers 
• microwaves 
• washing machines 

Depending on the appliances you have, you could save £45 a year in GB and £55 in NI by switching all devices in your home off standby. 

So go switch your coffee maker off at the wall after you’ve made a brew (especially if it has a ‘keep warm’ function). If you’re not sure whether an appliance should be switched off, check the manufacturer’s instructions. 

How much energy you use while cooking depends on what you’re cooking and how you cook it. Our experts have looked at how much it costs to use different cooking appliances like air fryers, microwaves and ovens. 

Generally, ovens are good for batch cooking. But if you’re only cooking for one or two people, an air fryer can be cheaper to use. 

But regardless of what you use, here are some useful tips to save energy while cooking: 

• Only use as much water as you need. Boiling more water than you need takes more time and energy. 
• Pop a lid on your pots and pans. The water will boil faster and use less energy to heat your food. It also reduces the amount of steam in the air, so less condensation on walls and windows which could reduce the risk of damp and mould. 
• Don’t open the oven door repeatedly to check in. You’ll let out hot air and waste energy. If you can, peek through the glass door instead. If you can’t peek through, it might be time to give it a clean. 

So, you’ve bought an appropriately sized, energy-efficient freezer. What else can you do to avoid using more energy than you need? 

• Never put hot food directly into the fridge or freezer. Let it cool on the side first. Putting hot food directly in the freezer could be a food safety issue as well as a waste of energy. 
• Defrost your freezer once or twice a year to make sure it’s working efficiently. 
• Don’t hold the door open for long periods of time. This makes the freezer have to work harder to keep the temperature down. 
• Keep your fridge at 5°C or less.