Which appliances use the most energy?

With energy prices still high, there are limited options for both saving money and limiting your impact on the environment. While there are fixed energy deals available from various green energy suppliers, but this is no longer the case.

However, there are still some practical things you can do at home to use less energy, help the environment and save money on your bills while you wait for deals from renewable energy providers to return.

Our Power House report will show you how much energy your everyday appliances use to help you see if you can run your home more efficiently. 

Not only have we collated a table below which lists the cost of different appliances in each room using their average power rating but we have also created the ‘Uswitch cost of running household appliances calculator’ to make it even easier to see which appliances and rooms in your home are costing you the most.

All costs are based on the average unit rates according to the current energy price cap.

Cost of running household appliances calculator

Our handy tool helps you calculate the cost of running household appliances in each room of your home. 

Simply select the different appliances and how long you use them and the calculator will provide an estimated individual appliance and total cost, broken down room by room. 

Using the cost of running household appliances calculator, you can see how making small changes to how you use household appliances can affect your energy costs.

The table below lists the cost of different appliances in each room using their average power rating and the costs are based on the average unit rates according to the energy price cap, which is set at £1,928 until 31 March 2024. 

Which kitchen appliances use the most energy?

We tend to spend most of our time in the kitchen, so a lot of a household’s energy usage is going to come from the various appliances used in cooking or storing food. According to the data, using the hob is likely to cost the most money at £79.89 per year. Freezers are more expensive to use than fridges (at £68.36 and £40.67 per year respectively), while the lowest-cost appliance is an ice cream maker, which uses 0.035 kWh and costs 45p per year.

Which living room appliances use the most energy?

As one of the most-used rooms in the house, living rooms account for a significant chunk of a home’s energy usage as well. According to the data, a built-in air conditioning system in the living room costs £116.95 each year. At the cheaper end of the scale - though they’re being increasingly passed over in favour of streaming - are DVD and Blu-Ray players, which cost around 20p per year.

Which bedroom appliances use the most energy?

Air conditioning isn’t limited to the living room. When it comes to bedroom comfort, a built-in air conditioning system can be invaluable, especially during a heatwave, but during the winter, a plug-in electric heater, which costs £25.48 per year, can be equally useful in ensuring a comfortable night’s sleep.  

Which bathroom appliances use the most energy?

In the bathroom, an electric shower uses the most energy according to the data - with an average use of 7.5 kWh, this translates into an average cost of £3.68 per week for UK households. Conversely, a gas shower costs £1.48 on average each week.

Which garden appliances use the most energy?

Most people don’t necessarily think of gardens having appliances in the same way that kitchens and bathrooms do, but however a hot tub or a barbecue might be categorised, their energy cost is still something to be aware of. An electric barbecue uses 2.2 kWh, which costs the average household 83p per week or £43.12 per year. The cheapest garden appliance is a plug-in water feature, which has an average yearly cost of £1.24. 

What uses gas and what uses electricity?

There are variations depending on homes and individual energy systems, but usually:

• Appliances and lights will use electricity.

• Heating (in terms of the house and water) will use gas, but may potentially use electricity.

Tips on how to reduce appliance energy usage

• Choose appliances with a high energy efficiency rating wherever possible - A-rated devices are the most energy-efficient

• Turn appliances off at the plug when you aren’t using them

• Switch off lights when leaving the room

• Swap halogen light bulbs for LED versions which last longer and cost less in the long-term 

• If possible, set a heating schedule for the times when you’re using certain rooms or know you’ll be at home

• You can find Uswitch’s list of over 100 energy-saving tips for all budgets here.

What’s the impact of energy saving on Net Zero? 

Reducing your appliance energy outputs can reduce your monthly bills and also help reduce your carbon footprint. Energy consumption in the UK contributes 95.8 million tonnes, which is 21% of the country’s overall carbon production. The UK has pledged to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050, which means having to increase renewable energy sources, as well as reducing carbon emissions from things such as transport, diet and waste. 

Uswitch's energy expert Ben Gallizzi says: 

“With the cost of living increasing, many of us are trying to find ways to cut down on our energy bills. It’s easy to think that small appliances may not have a big impact on your overall energy bill, but surprisingly they can often have the most impact. 

“Getting used to turning off electrical items at the plug sockets after use; making sure lights are turned off if rooms aren’t being used; and using more energy-efficient appliances wherever possible can all shave pounds off your bills.”

Methodology and sources

Research conducted online by Opinium, 6-9 June 2023, among 2,000 UK adults, weighted to be nationally representative.

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