Top five energy consuming home appliances

Washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers account for 14% of a typical energy bill, taking the top spot in our list. The power needed to heat the water that they use pushes up consumption, making them energy-hungry household appliances.

Actively choosing to wash clothes at a lower temperature can help reduce your energy consumption and try to avoid washing half loads to save water. The same advice goes for you dishwasher: use the Eco setting if it has one and try to wait until it’s full to set it off. We’ve got more tips in our blog on being energy efficient when using your washing machine.

Fridges and freezers also account for around 13% of the average household’s energy bill. By their very nature, these appliances need to stay on all the time, so they’re continually drawing power to maintain a constant temperature.

They’re also among the longest lasting appliances in our home. The typical fridge-freezer has a lifespan of 17 years!

Since they’ll be on 24 hours a day, and could last you 17 years, there’s a huge benefit to investing in an energy efficient one. The next time you’re buying a new fridge or freezer, consider the smallest that meets your needs, as well as the highest rated one you can afford.

Today, we are far more reliant on consumer electronics – from laptops to TVs to game consoles – so it should come as no surprise that they take third place, accounting for around 6% of your energy bill.

Some of the oldest advice remains relevant: remember to turn your devices off standby where possible.

If it’s time for a new TV, look for the most energy efficient one you can afford, or choose a smaller screen size to save on running costs. We have more advice on choosing home appliances, including top things to look out for to reduce your energy bills.

Coming in just behind your electronics, lighting takes up around 5% of an average home’s total energy bill. You can reduce the amount of energy you use by replacing halogen bulbs with LEDs.

LEDs come in a range of shades from cool to warm, allowing you to create the lighting effect that you want for your home. If the average household replaced all bulbs with LEDs, it would cost about £160 and save around £55 a year on bills.

Another tip: turn your lights off when you’re not using them or when you leave a room. This will save you around £20 a year on your annual energy bills.

Are your cooking habits costing you too much in your energy bills? Around 4% of your energy bill is spent on powering kitchen appliances, including the hob, oven, kettle and microwave.

Microwaves are more efficient than ovens at cooking, as they only heat the food and not the air space inside. And try to avoid overfilling the kettle and save yourself £11 a year on your electricity bill.

Check out our quick tips page to see how much you could save on your energy bills.