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Spare the dryer

Taking steps to dry your clothes more efficiently will help save energy and money:

• when possible, dry your clothes outside or on a clothes rack
• if you use the dryer, fill it each time, rather than putting on a number of small loads

Washing machines and dishwashers

Two half-loads use more energy and water than one full load

• washing clothes at 30 degrees saves energy - today's detergents wash just as well at low temperatures
• run washing machines and dishwashers less often, but with full loads - a half load setting uses more than half the energy and water of a full load
• switching off and unplugging appliances at the wall when not in use will save the energy used by lights and displays
• cleaning filters regularly keeps appliances running efficiently

• Waterwise - UK dishwashers ranked by water efficiency Opens new window
• Waterwise - UK washing machines ranked by water efficiency Opens new window

Fridges and freezers

Use fridges and freezers more efficiently by defrosting appliances regularly.

Buy energy efficient appliances

• think about the running costs as well as the purchase price; a small monthly saving from a more efficient appliance could add up to a substantial saving over the lifetime of your appliance 
• look for the smallest product for your needs to cut energy consumption and protect the environment. Two different sized fridges can have the same efficiency rating, but the smaller one will use less energy and cost less to run
• generally, gas is a greener choice than electricity for cooking as it has lower climate change effects
• some kettles have unnecessary features that use up extra electricity, like lights or ‘keep warm’ functions - so try to avoid these

Look for the label

Appliances with an Energy Saving Recommended label are cheaper to run

When buying a new appliance, there are two key energy labels to look out for:

• the Energy Saving Recommended logo can only be used on the most energy efficient products, usually the top 20 per cent of those available  
• the EU energy label is now obligatory for all white goods and ovens in the UK; it grades products from A (best) to G (worst) for energy use (the scale now goes up to A++ for fridges and freezers)

You could also look at how water-efficient a new appliance is. As a rule, the more energy efficient a machine is, the less water it will use. EU energy labels show litres of water used per wash.

• when choosing a washing machine, look for a machine that uses less than 50 litres per wash
• for dishwashers, look for one that uses less than 15 litres per wash

• European energy labels
• UK dishwashers ranked by water efficiency Opens new window
• UK washing machines ranked by water efficiency Opens new window

Get rid of old appliances safely

Appliances contain chemicals which can damage the environment if not disposed of carefully

Appliances contain large amounts of valuable raw materials like metals, as well as harmful chemicals which can damage the environment if not disposed of carefully. If you have to dispose of an old appliance you can:

• try to find unwanted devices a new home with a relevant charity or other organisation – appliances can often be repaired and re-used
• if you are buying a new electrical item, retailers are now obliged to either take back the old item you are replacing, or tell you where you can take it for recycling. Some retailers will collect old appliances from your home if they are delivering a new item – ask if they provide this service
• old electrical appliances can be disposed of at your local civic amenity site (waste and recycling centre) free of charge
• local authorities will collect unwanted bulky white goods from your home, but they may make a charge for the service
  

Improvements in fridges mean that newer models do not contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that damage the ozone layer, but they still need to be carefully disposed of.

• Find a local re-use charity that accepts household appliances, via the Furniture Reuse Network Opens new window
• Disposing of electronic and electrical equipment
• Disposal of bulky items (home and community section)
• Apply for a special waste collection for large items Opens new window

Energy efficient cooking

You can also use the appliances you have in an efficient way when you are cooking. Things to consider:

• putting a lid on a pan will significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to boil
• electric kettles use nearly a third of all the electricity an average household uses for cooking, so only boiling as much water as you need can help save a lot of energy
• if you are looking to heat up a small amount of food you may want to consider using a microwave rather than a conventional oven as there is emerging research that indicates that this may save you energy
  
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The wider issue

It pays to think about the appliances you are buying and the ways they are being used. For example fridges and freezers work harder than any other kitchen appliance - they're on 24 hours a day. Buying an energy efficient fridge freezer means you use nearly a third of the energy to do the same job as a 10-year-old model. So choosing the right appliance can help you both save money and lessen your impact on the environment.

• More on waste and resource use

More useful links

• Saving energy in your home
• Greener shopping: a quick guide
• Green labels and claims
• Energy Saving Trust Opens new window
• Saving water in your home