(Video by the Energy Savings Trust)
Thinking of buying a new household appliance? We have news for you!
You may not be aware of this, but in 2020, new rules came out for appliance efficiency, and new labels came into effect at that time.
I am aware as an energy advisor that old appliances in our homes may not be very efficient, especially second-hand appliances! Whenever there are concerns about unexpected bill increases, one of the first things I would do is assess whether these increases are being caused by an inefficient appliance. Issues can arise with haywire fridges and freezers. If door seals fail, if hinges break or even if the vents and fins are very dusty, this may cause a significant increase in your electricity bills. An easy way to identify the offending appliance (if you have a smart meter or energy monitor) is to turn off all the devices one by one and note the decrease in energy consumption. If there’s a significant drop in usage, you may have found the troublesome article.
When replacing a faulty appliance, I would always advise buying the most energy-efficient appliance that your budget can stretch to. You can identify how energy efficient a device is by looking at its energy label. Labels used to (confusingly) go from A+++ to G. The new system simply goes from A to G, with A-rated being the most energy-efficient.
So why did the system change? Increased demand for greener products means more efficient products are now available - so the old A+++ to G label scales are less effective. The new generation of energy labels will make purchasing decisions easier.
If you'd like any more advice on saving energy in your home, contact us today!
Check out the new labels, so you know what to look out for. https://energylabel.org.uk/ or https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-labels-are-changing-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
Written by Anne