Why?
It is not enough to switch to green energy alone in order to reach net-zero emissions, we also need to significantly reduce how much energy we use. Old household appliances tend to need a lot of energy. Choosing an A-rated fridge freezer over a F-rated unit (under the new labelling system) will save you about £800 (670kgCO2e) in energy bills over its 17-year expected service life.
It is worth investing in more energy efficient appliances once your old ones come to the end of their life. This will reduce costs and your carbon footprint in the long run.
However, the production and transportation of household items causes emissions so it is not a good idea to replace items with more efficient models unless they are very old/broken beyond repair.
How?
Energy efficient products
Fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers are traditionally not very energy efficient. Investing a little more in their efficiency will save money over time.
The least efficient appliance is the fridge. You could save up to five times the energy needed for a standard fridge by investing in the most efficient model. In addition, an energy efficient washing machine can reduce electricity usage by up to a third. Using the most efficient appliances across the board will have a massive impact on the amount of energy you use.
Smaller items are often overlooked but energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs can save up to four times the energy needed for a standard bulb.
Buying energy efficient products
Finding the most energy efficient product may mean shopping around longer than you normally would. Though this may be time consuming, you will not only save money in the long run, but also contribute to a better global environment.
You can find energy efficient appliances via the Save Money Cut Carbon website.
More information on energy efficient appliances is available through the Energy Saving Trust.
Support
- Energy efficiency labels were re-scaled in 2021 to reflect improvements in overall energy efficiency. See info on new product labelling.
- All labels include the annual energy consumption in kWh. This is the key number to compare if you want an energy efficient appliance (size and function are controlled for in the labelling system)
- Appliances direct, John Lewis , Save Money Cut Carbon and others allow you to filter some (but not all!) appliances by energy label
