British Gas has identified the tumble dryer as the biggest energy guzzler in most UK homes, costing around £0.80 per hour to run. The energy supplier has shared advice to help households reduce their bills this winter.
Most power-hungry appliances ranked
According to British Gas, tumble dryers are one of the most power-hungry appliances, so they should be used sparingly. A heated clothes dryer is more economical if it is too wet to dry laundry outside.
The supplier's ranking of the most power-hungry appliances includes the kettle at £0.03 for five minutes, the toaster at £0.03 for five minutes, the TV at £0.05 for one hour, and the games console at £0.05 for one hour. A PC or laptop plugged in for one hour costs £0.05, while an electric hob used for 15 minutes costs up to £0.11.
An electric cooker or oven used for 30 minutes costs £0.40, a dishwasher run for one hour costs up to £0.48, and a washing machine at 40°C for one hour costs £0.53. An electric shower used for 15 minutes costs £0.66, and the tumble dryer tops the list at £0.80 for one hour.
Simple habits to cut costs
Washing clothes at 30°C uses up to 40% less energy than higher temperatures while still cleaning effectively with modern detergents, the company claims. Across the rest of the home, turning electronics off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby, taking shorter showers, and using a smart meter to monitor daily usage spikes can all help.
In the kitchen, energy use can be reduced by matching the right appliance to the task. Air fryers for smaller meals and slow cookers for family dishes draw far less power than a standard oven. When using the oven, batch-cooking meals to freeze for later helps, and keeping lids on pans traps heat and cuts energy consumption by up to 30%. Regularly defrosting the fridge-freezer and upgrading older appliances to A-rated models also helps keep daily running costs down.
Heating and hot water savings
Since heating and hot water account for over half of household energy bills, small adjustments here could quickly lead to significant savings. Lowering the thermostat by just 1°C can cut up to 10% off the bill, with 18 to 21°C recommended as a comfortable range.
Installing smart thermostats and smart radiator valves to heat only the rooms in use, insulating the hot water tank, and draught-proofing windows and doors can further reduce waste. Reducing the boiler's flow temperature to 60°C or below also improves efficiency without sacrificing warmth.
