How switching your electrical appliances could cut your energy bills by £100
SWITCHING your electrical appliances for more energy efficient models could save you more than £100 a year.
If you're thinking about replacing household goods such as your fridge or tumble dryer, make sure you check how much energy it uses.
According to research by Which? the most energy efficient appliances are £100 a year cheaper to run.
The annual cost of running energy efficient appliances has gone up by £41.
In comparison, the price hike for less efficient fridge-freezers, tumble dryers washing machines and dishwashers is £138 in total – from £414 to £552.
If you're struggling financially, you might not be in a position to switch all of your appliances to more efficient alternatives.
In that case, you could save money by making sure they're fully switched off when they're not in use.
But if you are in the market for a new fridge-freezer or tumble dryer, for example, you could save money by getting one that uses less electricity.
Bear in mind that energy efficient appliances might be more expensive up front.
You should work out whether they will help you to save money in the long-term.
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How can I find out how energy efficient my electrical appliances are?
When you’re buying a new appliance for your home, look out for its energy label.
That will tell you how much energy it uses compared to similar appliances.
The labels are based on a scale of A to G, with A being the most efficent and G the Least.
Products are also catagorised by their size, so two different sized appliances with the same energy rating might use different amounts of electricity.
As a general rule, the bigger the appliance, the more electricity it will use.
That means you could save money by avoiding buying a product that's bigger than you actually need.
Which? has of the fridge freezers, dishwashers, tumble-dryers and washing machines in the shops.
The Which? research doesn't test how effective any of the products are, so you should check reviews before making a purchase.
How to get help to buy new electrical appliances
If you're struggling financially, you can get help to pay for essential household goods.
Contact your energy supplier as they might have a hardship scheme you can apply for.
You should also get in touch with your local council, as you may be eligible for a grant from the Household Support Fund.
The amount of help available under the scheme varies across the country, but some local authorities will allow it to be spent on essential household items.
If you claim benefits, you could apply for a budgeting loan - although you will have to pay this back.
These can be used for a wide range of things including replacing white goods.
Search the to see if there are any grants you're eligible for, and make sure you're getting all the money you're entitled to using a benefits calculator.
Sites such as Freecycle or Gumtree let people list free or low-cost furniture that they no longer need.
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Other places to check include eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Don't forget your local charity shops too, where there are often plenty of bargains to be found.
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