With the energy price cap increasing this month, you might be wondering which everyday appliances are adding the most to your bill. Heating our homes accounts for the largest portion of a typical energy bill – around 40% of the total energy spend per year for the average household. But the appliances we’re using day-to-day can also have a significant impact on our consumption and costs. So, being smart about how we use them can make a real difference.
According to Energy Saving Trust, washing machines, and dishwashers and tumble dryers (if you have them), account for 14% of a typical energy bill, while fridges and freezers take up around 13%. Electronics like TVs and laptops make up about 6%, and lighting accounts for around 5%.
We’ve looked at common household appliances to see how much they’d cost to run for an hour, on average, or for a typical cooking cycle. But it’s worth noting that these figures will vary based on how energy efficient your appliance is to begin with, because higher-rated appliances will consume less energy. We’ll also share some practical tips on how to use your appliances more efficiently, and hopefully save money on your bills.
Red category: High-energy appliances
As a general rule, anything that generates heat will have a higher running cost, as is the case with the appliances listed below. These things could be adding the most to your energy bill, depending on how often you use them.
Electric shower – £2.20 per hour
The electric shower is the most energy-intensive appliance in many homes. Based on typical usage of about 144 hours per year, electric showers cost around £315 to run annually.
Electric oven – £1.10 per cooking cycle
Using your electric oven costs about £1.10 per cooking cycle. The yearly cost will depend entirely on how often you use it, but for a family cooking daily, this could easily add up to over £400.
Air fryer – £0.68 per cooking cycle
While still in the red category, an air fryer uses significantly less energy than a standard electric oven, and you’ll likely find your cooking time is reduced compared to an oven, too. For a household using it once daily, this would amount to about £250 per year – a considerable saving compared to using an oven for the same tasks.
Portable heater – £0.49 per hour
Portable electric heaters might seem like a convenient way to warm up a single room, but with typical usage of around 487 hours per year, they cost around £238 to run.
Hair dryer – £0.49 per hour
Hair dryers use a lot of power in short bursts. Based on average use of 122 hours annually, they typically cost around £60 per year to run, despite only being used for a few minutes at a time.
Amber category: Medium-energy appliances
These appliances use a moderate amount of energy.
Iron – £0.34 per hour
With typical usage of about 61 hours annually, irons cost around £21 per year to run, despite their relatively high power consumption.
Tumble dryer – £0.34 per hour
Tumble dryers are among the more energy-hungry regular appliances. Used for an average of 390 hours per year, they typically cost around £131 annually, making them one of the most expensive regular-use appliances in most homes.
Toaster – £0.28 per hour
A toaster typically sees about 91 hours of use annually, which translates into a yearly cost of around £26.
Coffee machine – £0.27 per hour
Your morning coffee fix adds up over time. With average use of 263 hours per year, a coffee machine typically costs around £71 annually to run.
Vacuum cleaner – £0.21 per hour
Despite their powerful motors, vacuum cleaners are typically only used for around 73 hours per year. This converts into a modest annual cost of approximately £15.
Dishwasher – £0.14 per hour
Used for an average of 439 hours annually, dishwashers typically cost around £60 per year to run. In many cases, this can be much more economical than washing up by hand, depending on factors like water temperature and washing methods. The energy rating of your dishwasher can also make a significant difference – choosing an A-rated dishwasher over an E-rated one could save you around £210 over its 11-year lifetime.
If you prefer handwashing, using a bowl, rather than running the tap, can save substantially on both energy and water bills. You only need to run a typical tap for 95 seconds to fill a washing-up bowl.
Washing machine – £0.08 per hour
Washing machines see substantial use in most homes – around 494 hours per year on average. Despite this, their yearly energy cost is typically only around £38, largely thanks to improved efficiency and washing at cooler temperatures.
Green category: Lower-energy appliances
These appliances will typically have lower running costs, on average.
Electric blanket – £0.04 per hour
Electric blankets are used extensively during colder months and get around 2,190 hours of use each year. Despite their long running times, they’re still relatively economical, costing about £89 annually – far less than heating an entire room with a portable heater.
Microwave – £0.04 per cooking cycle
Microwaves are much more energy-efficient than conventional ovens, and even air fryers, and cost just £0.04 per cooking cycle on average. For a household using it multiple times daily, you can expect to spend under £50 a year running it.
Computer – £0.03 per hour
With average use of around 913 hours annually, computers typically cost about £31 per year to run.
Games console – £0.03 per hour
Games consoles, used for an average of 526 hours per year, typically cost around £15 annually in electricity – a relatively small amount considering the hours of entertainment they provide.
Fridge-freezer – £0.03 per hour
Fridge-freezers run continuously, yet modern energy-efficient models only cost around £57 a year to run. Energy efficiency ratings make a big difference with these long-lasting appliances – choosing an A-rated fridge-freezer over an E-rated model could save you around £360 and 420kg of carbon dioxide over its typical 17-year lifetime.
TV – £0.02 per hour
The average TV runs for about 2,006 hours per year and costs approximately £41 annually – about 2p per hour of viewing. Screen size matters when it comes to energy consumption. Choosing a 55″ TV over a 65″ TV could save around £7 in running costs a year, plus 6kg of carbon dioxide emissions. The energy rating is also important. Choosing an E-rated TV over a G-rated model could save approximately £140 over the TV’s lifetime.
Internet router – £0.002 per hour
Like fridge-freezers, internet routers typically run 24/7, yet they only cost around £18 per year to operate.
Smart speaker – £0.001 per hour
Despite being on standby permanently and used for an average of 518 hours per year, smart speakers use a remarkably low amount of energy. They typically cost less than £1 annually.
How to save energy with your appliances
Now that you know which appliances use the most energy, here are some practical tips to help reduce your energy consumption and save money.
Choose energy-efficient appliances
When it’s time to replace an appliance, check the energy rating label. For example, an A-rated 12-place dishwasher costs about £35 a year to run, while a G-rated equivalent costs around double (£70). The same principle applies to fridges, freezers, washing machines and other appliances with energy ratings.
For appliances without energy ratings, like microwaves and kettles, look at the power rating (in watts) to compare how much energy different models use.
Use your appliances efficiently
Small changes in how you use your appliances can make a big difference:
- Wash clothes at lower temperatures
- Only run full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher
- Use eco settings where available
- Avoid overfilling your kettle – only boil what you need. This simple change could save around £10 in energy bills and 9kg of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
- Consider an air fryer for smaller meals instead of heating a whole oven
- Turn off appliances at the wall rather than leaving them on standby
- Use LED bulbs instead of halogen – they use about 80% less electricity
- Keep your fridge and freezer at optimal temperatures (3-5°C for fridges, -18°C for freezers)
Consider your tech usage
If you work from home, it is worth knowing that laptops typically use 85% less electricity than desktop PCs – they cost about £12 per year to run compared to £31 for a computer.
Choosing a laptop over a desktop and reducing standby usage could save up to £30 and 25kg of carbon dioxide every year. Remember to switch off your computer, including monitors, printers and other equipment once you’re finished using them.
Tablets are even more efficient, using 70% less power than laptops on average and costing less than £2 annually.
For entertainment, remember that TV energy use increases with screen size. A 60″ TV costs about twice as much to run as a 40″ model with the same energy rating.
Think about seasonal energy usage
Some appliances see much higher usage during certain seasons. Electric blankets, for instance, might only be used during winter months but can accumulate over 2,000 hours of use annually.
Meanwhile, fans and portable air conditioning units might only be used during summer, but can significantly impact your energy bills during those months. So it’s worth being mindful that your usage might go up or down, depending on the time of year.
For more information on making your home more energy-efficient, take a look at ways to go greener at home, and our energy-saving tips.
Source – Rightmove