86% of the UK are now are consciously trying to be sustainable according to a new report by Wren Kitchens
Recycling, reusing, and repurposing have now become an everyday occurrence in the UK as households try and do ‘their bit’ for climate change and reduce their carbon footprint.
However, with energy use for household appliances tripling within the past 40 years2 just how much money and energy could we save by changing to a greener solution?
The new report has revealed that the kitchen is the most likely culprit for carbon and energy usage, due to the amount of appliances the room hosts whilst detailing tips on how to save energy and money.
How much each appliance is costing you (both in energy and cost)
Wren Kitchens surveyed UK respondents to reveal how often they use different household appliances. This data was then used to reveal the cost of each appliance per year, per household
The full list of energy consumption and costs for appliances can be seen below:
| Appliance | How often the appliance is used per day | Co2 produced annually (kg) | Cost annually (£) |
| Freezer | 24hours | 297 | £280 |
| Fridge | 24hours | 223 | £210 |
| Electric Oven | 30 mins | 62 | £58 |
| Dishwasher | 30 mins | 56 | £53 |
| Hob | 30 mins | 46 | £44 |
| Kettle | 8 mins | 12 | £12 |
| Toaster | 5 mins | 7.75 | £7.30 |
| Microwave | 5 minutes | 0.5 | £4.86 |
Tips on Saving Energy and Money in the Kitchen
Although usage of the appliance is often unavoidable, there are ways to make sure you are being as green as possible. The following list details tips per appliance:
- Freezer – The best way to reduce energy consumption is to fill the freezer up, because keeping air cold uses more energy than keeping food cold does.
- Fridge – To save power, don’t leave the door open when you’re taking food out, as more energy will be needed to reduce the temperature again.
- Electric Oven – To save energy and money, try not to leave the oven on standby; turn it off at the plug between uses.
- Dishwasher – Dishwashers often have an energy-saving mode you can use, and you can reduce the temperature to curtail power consumption.
- Electric Hob – Covering pots and pans with lids will help things cook faster, so the hob will use less energy overall. Keeping it clean will also help, as burnt food or grease will absorb heat and make it less efficient.
- Kettle – To save energy, only boil the amount of water you need; if you boil more, that energy will just go to waste.
- Toaster – The toaster is used on average for 5 minutes a day by British households, which equates to £7.30 a year and 7.75kg of Co2. As this is minimal, the best way to save on both is to buy a reliable toaster, as the production and distribution of a new one will expend more energy.
- Microwave – To save energy make sure you are only running the microwave for the recommended time per product, this not only saves energy but avoids burning food!
Knowing your energy ratings
When buying a kitchen appliance you can use energy efficiency ratings to determine how environmentally friendly the appliance is during use.
Each appliance is required to have a label which shows a rating from A+++ all the way to D (image detailed below)
The higher the rating (closer to A+++) the more efficient the appliance.
So if you’re in the market for a new fridge, kettle or cooker – make sure you check the label before purchasing.