As energy costs continue to sore for millions of us across the country, householders may be looking at ways to try to keep bills down, and be a bit greener too.
The consumer choice company Which has collected data and has found there are a number of everyday essentials in our kitchen which may be contributing to those rising monthly bills.
Here, we take a look at the kitchen appliances that contribute the most to our energy bills and how best to lower the costs.
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Which kitchen appliances use the most energy?
When it comes to the larger appliances, those that use the most energy include tumble dryers, American-style fridge freezers, dishwashers, built-in electric ovens and washing machines.
Meanwhile, the most expensive small kitchen appliance is a kettle, which has an average power rating of around 3,000W.
Now the important part:
How can you cut the costs?
- Make sure your dishwasher is filled properly and only run full loads
- Wash your clothes at a lower temperature in the washing machine
- Dry your clothes on a line rather than using a tumble dryer
- Keep your appliances clean so they run with maximum efficiency
- Turn appliances off at the plug
- Buy energy-efficient appliances
With energy efficient appliances you could save the following per year per item:
Fridge Freezer – £138
Tumble dryer – £137
Washing machine – £69
Dishwasher – £44
Built-in oven – £37
Another effective energy saving technique is draught proofing
Windows – Use draught-proofing strips around the frame. Brush strips work better for sash windows Doors – Use draught-proofing strips around the edges and brush or hinged-flap draught excluders at the bottom
Chimney and fireplace – If you don’t use your fireplace, use an inflatable pillow to block the chimney, or fit a cap over the chimney pot. If you have an open chimney, this alone could save you £18 a year
Floorboards and skirting – Floorboards need to move, so use a flexible silicone-based filler to fill the gaps
Loft hatches – Use draught-proofing foam strips to keep heat in.