Is Your Home Green Energy Efficient? Top 5 Household Appliances
Switching your household to green energy? You’re not alone. Thousands of homes in Ireland have already made the switch to green energy with more and more switching every month. Switching your home to green energy is a simple step toward fighting climate change that we can all make. It also reduces your individual and household carbon footprints.
Did you know that switching to green energy can go beyond switching energy suppliers? There are also ways to make your home even greener whilst saving energy and money at the same time. For example, when switching to green energy, there are several household appliances that you may want to consider upgrading or replacing. By using more energy-efficient models of your household appliances, you’ll soon have the greenest house on the block.
Try These Large And Small Household Appliances For A Greener Home
Energy Efficient Refrigerators
Refrigerators are one of the biggest energy consumers in most households. This makes sense as they are one of the only large home appliances that consume electricity 24 hours a day.
The older a fridge gets, the more electricity it tends to use too. The average lifespan of a fridge is around 10 years. However, any fridge over five years old and without at least an A rating should be upgraded for a greener home. Upgrading to an energy-efficient model can significantly reduce your energy usage and costs.
A+ energy efficient fridges like the Nordmende Tall Freestanding Larder Fridge are one of the greener appliance choices available. Designed to minimise the amount of energy needed to keep your food cool and fresh, you’ll save energy and money.
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Irwins' Energy Tip: Keep fridges in cool areas of the kitchen and with sufficient ventilation. This way it won’t have to work as hard to stay cool inside.
Energy Efficient Ovens
Household appliances used to heat something up or cool something down are generally the appliances that use the most energy. This includes ovens as they are designed to keep a constant heat level as you cook. The good news is that there are many, many, stylish and efficient home ovens available.
At Irwins Megastores we have a huge range of energy efficient ovens for you to choose from. Browse oven brands you love including Bosch, Nordmende, Electrolux, Hotpoint and more, for a greener energy home. Ovens like the Bosch 3D Hot Air Oven also have extra innovations that prevent flavours from mixing as you batch cook.
Irwins' Energy Tip: Get the most from your energy efficient oven by cooking several dishes together. Avoid opening the door during cooking and use oven dishes that retain heat whilst cooking, such as metal or ceramic.
Energy Efficient Kettles
Did you know that a kettle uses more energy in 10 minutes than a laptop does in 8 hours?* Surprising isn’t it. Add to that the fact that the average Irish person drinks up to six cups of tea a day. Now it starts to make sense that the kettle is one of the biggest energy consumers in Irish households.
Boiling, reboiling and overfilling are the three biggest culprits for in-efficient kettle use. However, it can also be the kettle itself. Newer electric kettles are designed to use less power. Some are also insulated which means they lose less heat and keep water hotter longer. In turn, this reduces the need for reboiling when you get distracted and forget to make that cup of tea. Kettle models like the NINJA Perfect Temperature Kettle Black even let you choose the perfect temperature for your brew.
Irwins' Energy Tip: The bigger the headcount in your home, the bigger the kettle should be. Boil once and use the water right away to prevent a need for reboiling. Lastly, only boil the amount of water you need.
Energy Efficient Washing Machines
Samsung, Whirlpool and Hotpoint have some of the highest rated energy efficient washing machine models in Ireland. More and more washing machines have a fast wash and eco-wash options that reduce energy use and reduce cost significantly.
The average household in Ireland uses the washing machine between 200 - 400 times every year. That’s sometimes more than once a day. Upgrading to an efficient model will mean you can do as much laundry as you need and spend less.
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Irwins' Energy Tip: Research the cheaper times to use electricity and schedule washes for that time. Use cool water detergents for more efficient cool water cleaning.
Energy Efficient Tumble Dryers
If there’s one thing we love in Ireland it’s a grand day for drying. The great news is that with an energy efficient tumble day, every day can be a great day for drying. Old style tumble dryers are one of the biggest energy guzzlers in Irish homes. No surprise given the damp climate we live in.
Thankfully, tumble dryer designers are coming up with solutions to make dryers more energy efficient. Models like the Hotpoint Active Care Heat Pump Tumble Dryer uses heat pump technology to save you up to 45% energy. That means using the right A-rated model for your home could consume and cost nearly half as much.
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Irwins' Energy Tip: Ventilation is a big energy saver for tumble dryers, make sure to place them in well ventilated spaces. Also, keep the machine clean inside and out for better energy consumption.
What Does Switching To Green Energy In Ireland?
Switching to green energy means transitioning from a supplier that uses traditional sources of energy to one that uses renewable sources. Traditional energy sources include fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas. Whereas renewable sources of energy refer to the likes of solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power.
The use of renewable home energy sources in Ireland has become increasingly popular in recent years due to climate change concerns. Fossil fuels have been shown to contribute to climate change due to their negative impact on the environment. Renewable sources of energy however do not produce greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants. By switching to green energy for your home you can reduce the overall carbon footprint of your family and household.
How To Switch To Green Energy In Ireland
Switching your household to green energy can involve installing solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable energy sources. Alternatively, you can use green energy providers for your home utilities. Comparison websites like Bonkers.ie can be a useful tool for finding green energy providers in Ireland.
Why Switch To Green Energy In Ireland
According to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) the average household in Ireland uses 4,200 kW/h of electricity and 11,000 kW/h of gas annually. An average that can be lowered as more of us make the switch to energy efficient appliances.
Overall, switching to green energy and energy efficient appliances is a great way to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources. Moving us all towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system.
*Sources:
www.bonkers.ie/guides/gas-electricity/which-appliances-use-the-most-electricity