Introduction
When it comes to power hungry appliances in your home, which are the worst offenders? Here at Connections2energy, we asked ourselves the same question, so we researched which appliances could get your electric meter ticking faster than it should.
We were a little surprised at some of the items that made the top five list. There are no points for guessing that your fridge or freezer is power hungry, but did you know that your TV also falls into the top five energy-wasting electric connection appliances?
Are you ready to learn about the rest of the offenders and how to make them more energy efficient? Let’s go.
The List
1. Refrigerator
If there’s one room in the house that makes use of your energy connection, it’s the kitchen. Your fridge/ freezer combo is one of the top energy consumers in the typical household. However, there are ways that you can reduce the energy expenditure without running out and buying something new.
- Start with the temperature. Your freezer should be set at between -18 and -15 degrees Centigrade for food safety reasons. Your fridge can be set at between two and three and a half degrees. Anything lower than these temperatures is just a waste of electricity.
- Do set up regular defrosting sessions to keep the freezer in tip-top shape.
- Consider replacing the seals if they’re wearing.
- Pack your freezer properly. A half-full freezer is not as effective as a full one, so consider using ice packs in need.
2. Your Electric Oven or Hob
Your stove devours power. There are some things that you can do to reduce energy consumption, but we also recommend considering replacing this electricity connection appliance with a gas-powered one. Gas is usually less expensive in the long run.
Other than that:
- Choose a pan size to match the size of the plate you’re using. Using a smaller pan will mean wasted electricity and using a larger pan means that the food doesn’t cook as effectively.
- Put the lids on the pots to help retain heat.
- Turn down the food as soon as you can.
- Make sure the hob is kept clean at all times.
- For the oven, you can safely switch it off about ten minutes before the food is cooked. If you leave the door closed, it will retain the heat for long enough to finish.
3. The Dishwasher
This is a device that, when used properly, can save you electricity. The problem is that most of us don’t use it well. To save here, you need to:
- Check if it has an energy-saving cycle that you can use.
- Load the machine fully before switching it on.
4. The Tumble Dryer
Considering the British weather, this is one appliance that no home wants to do without. The problem is that it sucks up energy relentlessly.
You can help by:
- Not leaving the washing to the last minute. That way, you can wait a couple of days for the forecast to improve.
- Spinning the clothes thoroughly before putting them in the dryer.
- Making sure that the dryer is properly loaded.
5. Your TV
It’s time to curb your enthusiasm when it comes to the TV. The less that you use it, the better. If you must get your daily dose of programs, do consider buying something more energy efficient. Otherwise, here are some tips that will help.
- Unplug the TV when it’s not in use. Even on standby, it will draw a lot of power.
- Turn down the backlight setting. This will reduce the brightness of the screen and save you electricity.