Electrical appliances are used throughout the home, from washing machines to laptops, power-showers to televisions. Our everyday use of such electrical items means each home in the UK produces an average of 6 tonnes of Co2 every year. So what can we do to reduce our household carbon footprint and still use the appliances we depend on? Here is a guide to energy saving appliances which meet your household needs and help lower your home’s carbon footprint.
Kettles
An eco kettle can save electricity by making the heating of hot water more exact and efficient. Such eco kettles have a clear and visible guide as to how much water is in the kettle so you can boil exactly the amount you need. In addition, eco kettles are well insulated so that the water stays hotter for longer, and as they include a fitted temperature gauge you can check if the water is still hot enough for your drink so that you do not need to boil the kettlee again.
Televisions
If you own a cathode ray tube (CRT) television, lcd tv or even a plasma tv, depending on when you purchased it, you may be using a separate set top box to receive digital television. By switching to an Integrated Digital Television (IDTV) you can reduce your household carbon footprint as the television can receive the digital signal without the need for a separate set top box. This means you are using one power supply rather than two, and as the IDTV can be switched off without losing its settings it can be turned off completely rather than left on standby, saving even more electricity.
Washing machines
Washing machines with a high energy efficiency grading can reduce household Co2 through a number of energy saving features. Such machines may include cold wash temperature settings, a pressure switch mechanism which enables the machine to calculate the exact amount of water needed for the load, and half load options which ensure water is not wasted on small loads.
Dishwashers
Like washing machines, dishwashers with a high energy efficiency grading have several different ways of reducing the energy used during the cleaning process. Dishwashers with an eco programme will wash the dishes at a lower temperature and use less water. The rinse programme will remove excess food debris so that water and energy does not need to be wasted rinsing dishes before they are loaded. With such water saving rinse programmes it is important to check the filters of your dishwasher regularly as they can become clogged with the food removed from the dishes.
Fridge-Freezers
By purchasing a fridge-freezer with a thermostat the appliance will remain at the temperature you have specified and will not use excess energy cooling your food lower than the temperature required. To further cut electricity consumption you can fit a Savaplug to your fridge-freezer. The Savaplug controls the electricity supply to the fridge-freezer by calculating how much electricity the motor needs, ensuring no excess electricity is used.