Winter is officially here and with energy prices soaring across the country, Irish households are looking for ways to reduce their bill.
Realising exactly how much each appliance is costing you can help your household become more energy efficient and make some savings over the winter months. Irish energy provider Energia has revealed the how much electricity for the most used household appliances costs per hour.
The experts calculated how much each of the appliances use electricity-wise and subsequently, how much money they cost you per hour of usage. The findings of Energia’s research revealed that a power shower is the least energy-efficient item in Irish households, with tumble dryers and immersions also topping the list.
Read more: Irish households using old Christmas lights could be hit with massive electricity bills
A power-shower costs €3.33 to run for an hour, which is almost double the hourly price to run the second most expensive item, your immersion (€1.67). Meanwhile, your tumble dryer costs you €1.30 to run.
Televisions are the cheapest item to run, according to Energia's list. Their example of a 42-inch LCD will cost a household just €0.04 per hour.
A C-rated washing machine will set you back €0.43 per hour for a standard 40° cotton wash while a C-rated dishwasher's standard 65° cycle costs €0.65 per hour. When it comes to cooking devices, an airfyrer is the most energy efficient with an hourly cost of €0.56.
An oven costs €0.58 to run for an hour while an electric hob is €0.74. Toasters have an hourly cost of €0.68 while a 60 minutes of using your electric kettle adds €0.78 to your bill.
Energia also released their top tips to slash your electricity bill this winter:
- Keep your oven door closed- When you open your oven door, around 20% of heat is lost which results in your oven having to work to reheat it.
Make use of your microwave and air fryer- Both microwaves and airfryers heat food far quicker than ovens.
Watch out for your washing machine settings- Setting your washing machine to wash at 30 degrees or on the Eco setting if it's available can use around 57% less electricity than washing at higher temperatures.
Less is more- Only store what you need in the fridge and freezer and complete regular clearouts. The less that is stored in the fridge or freezer means the less energy consumption they use.
Know your ratings- Appliances are rated on a scale of A to G. If you can, choose appliances as close to A rating as possible to help keep energy consumption low.
Switch to LED bulbs- LEDs are often at least 80% more energy efficient and can often last 10 years or more.
Watch how you make your coffee- If you have a coffee machine at home but find yourself still constantly using the kettle to make your morning cup of coffee then it may shock you to know that when it comes to coffee making, an average coffee machine uses over 60% less energy per use than boiling a kettle.
Manage your tumble drying- If you have multiple loads of wet clothes, put similar items to dry together. Different materials require different settings.
Draughtproof your home- This can be one of the most effective ways to reduce your energy use. By blocking up any unwanted gaps that let cold air in and warm air out, you'll use less energy to heat your home, reduce your usage and keep cozy during winter.
As all Irish Mammy’s know - turn off the immersion! Heating your immersion can cost you €1.67 an hour. If you leave it on for a few hours, it can cost you up to €5 or more. By getting a timer, you can eliminate any energy wastage.
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