Three appliances silently increase electricity bills in homes
Appliances have labels that classify their efficiency on a scale from A to G. Photo: iStock
TL;DR
- Refrigerators, washing machines, and irons are major contributors to increased household energy consumption.
- Refrigerators consume significant energy due to their continuous operation and the need to regain temperature after the door is opened.
- Washing machine consumption increases with small loads or intensive cycles; optimizing load size and cycle length is recommended.
- Irons consume a lot of energy to generate and maintain high heat, with frequent interruptions increasing demand.
- Phantom consumption, where devices use energy while off, can account for 5% to 8% of total household energy use.
- Choosing appliances with higher energy efficiency ratings (e.g., 'A' on the A-G scale) can lead to significant savings.
- Simple habits like unplugging unused devices and performing regular maintenance can reduce energy bills and environmental impact.