Energy bills are now an average of £2,500 a year, but the actual amount depends on how much energy you use. In this feature, an engineer explains how to reduce energy costs from your appliances.

Want to reduce appliance energy costs? We understand: it’s cold and rainy October, and the energy price cap has gone way up. Most of us are concerned by the skyrocketing cost of energy, and want to keep the running costs of our essential appliances low. Fridges, cookers and washing machines all use up energy, unfortunately.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Electricals retailer AO has asked its team of engineers for advice on how we can all reduce appliance energy costs. From holding on to instruction manuals to customising washing cycles, here are all their best tips.

Always read the manual to reduce appliance energy costs

How to reduce appliance energy costs: hold onto your instruction manuals

Research from AO found that over half (54%) of Brits admit to throwing instruction manuals away. Also, 2 in 5 (43%) people regretted not properly reading the instruction manual before using their appliance. Unsurprisingly, 28% of the 2,000 people surveyed regretted binning the manual. 

Jason Smith, National Operations Manager at AO Logistics, says: “A simple step that many people often overlook is paying attention to the instructions. People often use more electricity than they need to because they don’t understand how their appliance works. Your manufacturer’s instructions are full of tips on how to reduce energy usage and make the most of your specific appliance.

“For example, don’t stick to pre-set programmes. Every appliance will have multiple settings, programmes and cycles that can be tailored to your own personal circumstances. This will reduce the amount of water, electricity and energy they use.”

Jason adds: “Instruction manuals are a free and easy way to reduce costs. Don’t worry if you’ve thrown them away – you can access manuals from most manufacturers online.”

Two more ways to limit your energy consumption

How to reduce appliance energy costs: limit the times you open your fridge and freezer

Jason says: “Try to limit the number of times you open the doors to your fridge and freezer. Every time you open the fridge door, cold air escapes and warm air enters. This means the appliance must work harder to reduce the temperature as a result. You may notice that the doors are hard to open again after closing. Cooling the air costs money, so the less you open the door, the less you spend.”

Be careful when purchasing a new appliance

How to reduce appliance energy costs: purchase energy-efficient appliances

Jason says: “Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we have no choice but to purchase a new appliance. While this can be an unexpected and often stressful expense, I’d recommend choosing an energy efficient model wherever possible. While it may not be the cheapest product upfront, these appliances use less energy to run so they pay for themselves over time, and you can make a substantial saving in the long term.”

A new energy saving tool

To help customers find the most efficient models, AO has introduced energy saving tool Youreko on its website. This highlights exactly how much money can be saved when choosing a more efficient appliance.

The tool can compare the running costs and real financial savings over the lifetime of multiple appliances. In addition, it can recommend alternative models that could be more cost effective in the long run. 

As a result, AO is already seeing customers choose to invest in a more energy efficient model to save on running costs.

So: keen to read more features on energy-saving? Then read our guide to heating your home more efficiently.

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