No one looks forward to the arrival of their energy bills. With the cost of energy seemingly increasing and with climate change getting worse, trying to decrease our energy usage and energy costs is a priority. Approximately 30% of C02 comes from household use, here are our top ways you can save with the appliances in your home.

 

The Dishwasher

There is 770g CO2 produced in a dishwasher at 55°C and 990g CO2 produced in a dishwasher at 65°C, that means if you use your dishwasher twice a day, seven times a week, you could be producing up to 720,000g of C02e a year.

A dishwasher can use a lot of energy and water, therefore using it more efficiently can make a huge difference. One of the best ways to do this is by only running a dishwasher cycle when it is full.  This is more efficient and will save you energy costs.

You can also buy more energy efficient dishwasher models which can help you save significantly on water and energy every year.

 

Ovens and Hobs

An electric oven uses around 1.56 kWh per use and produces 91kg of C02 per year. A gas oven uses around 1.52 kWh per use and produces 38kg of C02 per year. Alternatively, an hobs use less energy yet produce more C02, an electric hob produces 129kg of C02 per year and a gas hob produces 71kg of C02 per year.

To save on energy, try to cook as much as possible in the oven in one go to make sure all the space and heat is being used or try batch cooking meals, therefore you will have to use your oven less.

Also try not to open your oven whilst your food is cooking. The more you open the oven door, the more hot air you’ll let out, causing the oven to cool down.

Another way to cut down costs, is by covering your pots and pans withy lids. Using a lid will keep heat in and help the water boil faster, therefore, using less energy.

 

Fridges and Freezers

A fridge freezer can use 206kWh to 408kWh per year and produce 89kg to 175kg of C02 per year, depending on the make and model. A fridge freezer is a major appliance that needs to be on all the time to keep food frozen or cold. However, there are some ways that you can help save on energy.

One way is to change your fridge temperature. You don’t need your fridge to be on the coolest setting possible, having it in the middle is perfect and will help you save energy whilst still keeping your fridge nice and cool.

Also, just like with the oven, avoid opening the fridge door frequently. Keeping the door shut as much as possible will help conserve energy.

Keeping your fridge and freezer full is also a great way to make the most of the energy you are using. The more space there is that isn’t full causes your fridge or freezer to work harder to maintain its temperature.

 

Washing Machines and Dryers

A 2kg load of washing at 40 degrees uses 0.63kWh on average and produces 51kg of C02 per year. A tumble dyer uses 2.50kWh per cycle and produces 159kg of C02 per year.

Washing on a lower temperature can help you save a lot; most washing machines have an eco-friendly setting that you can use to reduce the temperature. Making sure you are putting on a full load of washing instead of half a load, is also going to save you a lot of energy.

Air drying you r clothes rather than using your tumble dryer will also save you. Only using your dryer if it is urgent or something must be tumble dried, will help decrease your energy costs.

 

Making sure all your appliances are in top working condition, will also save you on energy costs. If your appliance is damaged or broken, it may be using more energy than it needs.

If you think your appliance may need looking over or is damaged, contact us today or visit our website to see how we can help!