Check the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer with a thermometer. Set them to whichever setting allows the refrigerator temperature to remain between 35 and 38 degrees, and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees. A refrigerator set 10 degrees colder uses up to 25 percent more energy.
Your usage
Frequent or prolonged door opening can place added pressure on the compressor because it lets more warm air in when you open the door. This means your fridge and freezer will need to use extra energy to replace the cold air that flows out every time the door is opened.
If you have a 2100W (2.1 kW) washing machine and you run it for an hour, it'll use 2.1kWh of electricity in that hour. If electricity costs 34p per unit, multiply 2.1kWh by 34p and you get a grand total of 71p. Bingo, that's how much your washing machine costs per hour.
If there is a problem with your fridge's ability to cool efficiently, it will draw more power to compensate for it. Keep an eye out for faulty lining around the door. If the doors to your fridge/freezer are not sealed properly, cool air can escape and make your appliance work harder than it should.
For example, most people have units that operate (or “run”) for about eight total hours per day. But, if you do things like clean the coils, position the appliance correctly, keep it well-maintained, and set the right temperature, you can reduce the amount of time it runs to less than eight hours per day.
To keep food cold and fresh but not frozen, it should be set somewhere between 3-5°C (37-40°F). Some fridges have a temperature reading, but most have a numbered dial. This usually goes from 1 to 5, with 5 being the coldest.
In eco-mode, your refrigerator or freezer will often make minor temperature adjustments to increase energy efficiency. Temperatures may be slightly raised compared to what you would typically set, making it easier for your appliance to maintain coolness while ensuring a food-safe environment.
There is no point in bothering to shut the refrigerator off at night because the appliance is designed to shut itself off when not being used. During the day, the refrigerator works the hardest. Each time the door is opened, warm air rushes in, the fans turn on, the compressor turns on.
Set the temperature of your fridge to between 4 and 5°C, and your freezer to -18°C (1°C colder increases your energy consumption by 5 to 10%).
On average, refrigerators use 300-800 watts of electricity. It costs an average of $20 a month or $240 a year to run a refrigerator. A refrigerator's actual energy use is typically much less than the stated wattage because they cycle on and off throughout the day.
Most experts recommend that the ideal temperature setting for a refrigerator is between 35-38°F (1.6-3.3°C). This temp ensures food safety by giving a 2-5 degree buffer in case the temperature gauge isn't wholly accurate.
The position of your fridge can have an impact on how hard it has to work. Make sure it is as far away from heat sources like ovens and radiators as possible. Also try to keep it out of direct sunlight. Make sure there's at least 5 cm of free space around the sides, the back and the top of your fridge for ventilation.
What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.
To maximize your savings, minimize the number of doors and pay attention to cool air you can feel when you shut the doors. Make sure the seals around the doors are airtight. If they are not, replace them. Consider selecting an ENERGY STAR-certified refrigerator with a lower Global Warming Potential refrigerant (GWP).
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer for an hour? According to Heatable, a 2500W tumble dryer costs about 85p to use for an hour. However, the tumble dryer cost per hour depends on the energy efficiency rating of your tumble dryer and the cost of energy at the time.
Use the Energy Rating Calculator
You can use online tools to work out how much energy each of your appliances is likely to be using. The Energy Rating Calculator shows expected energy usage, and estimated running cost of many appliances. You can: input the brand and model of the appliance.
While the amount of energy a shower will use varies on the individual appliance, an electric shower can use an average of 8.5kW of energy. With this in mind to work out the cost of using an electric shower you need to multiply how much energy it is using, so 8.5, by the cost of electricity, 0.34.