Which Household Appliances Use The Most Electricity?

Energy prices have increased rapidly in the last 12 months and reached record highs in December last year. Ofgem recently announced an increase in the energy price cap to reflect rising wholesale prices and the new changes that came into effect in April 2022.

The energy price increase affected roughly 22 million customers in the UK and household bills have risen to almost £2,000 a year – an increase of around £693. Everyone is feeling the pinch of rising energy prices and many households are feeling anxious about how they are going to afford their utility bills if energy prices continue to rise.

Choosing the most energy-efficient household appliances can help you save significant amounts of energy and money.  We’ve put this article together to tell you which household appliances use the most electricity, with tips to help you conserve energy at home and slash your monthly utility bills.

How much electricity do household appliances use?

Some common household items use huge amounts of electricity while others are highly efficient. Below, we have outlined which common household appliances use the most electricity, with tips to reduce their consumption further down.

Wet appliances

Appliances that use water, such as washing machines and dishwashers, tend to consume the most amount of electricity. These appliances account for roughly 16% of total energy bill costs according to the Energy Saving Trust. The power needed to heat the water that wet appliances use means that they consume large amounts of energy while they are operating.

Cold appliances

Freezers and fridges are the second biggest energy consumers and account for roughly 12% of the average household’s energy bill. Cold appliances must be turned on all the time which means they are continuously draining electricity.

Lighting

Having multiple lights turned on can be a huge drain on your energy, especially if you have halogen bulbs. Lighting accounts for roughly 6% of an average home’s total energy bill according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Electronics

Today, we are extremely reliant on electronics like laptops, TVs and other smart devices. Owning and running multiple electronics can increase your electricity usage and energy bills considerably. For instance, research found that an LED TV costs over £50 a year to run, making it one of the most expensive household appliances.

How can I check my home’s energy efficiency?

Booking an energy survey of your home is the quickest way to assess how energy efficient your home and appliances are. A certified energy assessor will visit your home and carry out a detailed inspection before giving your property an EPC (energy performance certificate) rating from A-G – with A being the most efficient and G being the least.

As part of the energy assessment, you will also be given recommendations to improve your energy rating. This may include energy-saving upgrades like installing extra insulation or replacing traditional light bulbs with LEDs. Minor upgrades can have a big impact and help you save significant amounts of energy and money.

How can I conserve electricity at home?

Here are some tips to use your household appliances as efficiently as possible to help you conserve electricity and reduce your energy bill.

• Wash clothes at a lower temperature and avoid washing half loads to save water. Always activate the Eco setting if your washing machine or dishwasher has one.
• Avoid overloading your fridge and freezer so they don’t have to work as hard to keep your food cold.
• Always turn the lights off when you leave a room and try to avoid using artificial lighting by making the most of natural sunlight.
• Replace halogen bulbs with LEDs – these use less energy and last significantly longer than traditional light bulbs.
• Always switch electronics off from the wall when they are not in use and avoid leaving them on standby as these use ‘vampire energy.’
• Replace old appliances with new, energy-efficient models. Look for appliances with an energy rating label of A or above.

Bottom line

Energy prices are increasing at an unprecedented rate, and it has never been more important to be mindful of your energy usage. You should be aware of which household appliances use the most energy and find ways to reduce their consumption e.g. by upgrading to a newer model or switching appliances off from the wall when they are not in use. Simple changes to your habits will help you conserve electricity at home and save money on your utility bills.  

Curious about obtaining an EPC? We operate in locations all around the United Kingdom – EPC London, EPC Birmingham, EPC Manchester, EPC Liverpool and many more locations.