HomeMoversPack 2020

www.homemoverspack.co.uk 17
for your new home
Fridges and Freezers
Fridges and freezers are switched on 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. So it’s no surprise
they can account for 20% of the electricity
used in the average UK home.
Choosing an energy efficient fridge or freezer
can help cut your bills. They come in many
different shapes and sizes, which can affect
their energy usage. For example, upright
freezers are less efficient than chest freezers
as cool air drops out of an upright freezer
when you open the door.
All fridges and freezers come with an energy
efficiency rating. That rating is based upon
their size. So a smaller A rated fridge could use
less energy than a bigger A+ rated appliance.
You can compare how much electricity
different size appliances use by looking at their
total annual energy consumption. You’ll find
this on the bottom right of the energy label.
Tips for smart usage
• Don’t put your fridge or freezer next to
a cooker or in the sun. It will work more
efficiently if it’s kept cool.
• Make sure air can circulate around the
back of your fridge or freezer. Also keep
the back dust free.
• Load and unload your fridge or freezer as
quickly as possible. Don’t leave the door
open longer than you need to.
• Never put hot food in a fridge or freezer
as it uses more energy. Let the food
cool first.
• To keep food fresh and your bills down,
your fridge should be between 3 and 5°C.
Your freezer should be kept at -18°C.
• Defrost your fridge or freezer regularly.
Too much ice can stop them from working
efficiently.
• Check for gaps in door seals that could
let warm air in. Place a piece of paper
in the door, if you can easily remove the
paper with the door closed, then warm air
can get into the fridge.
• Use boxes or newspaper to fill gaps in
your freezer. This stops your freezer from
wasting energy by cooling air.
Ovens and Hobs
Cooking adds up to about 4% of the average
energy bill. However, the way you cook your
food can reduce your energy consumption.
Microwaves can be the most energy efficient
way to prepare a meal, as they heat the food
directly and reduce cooking time, but apart
from microwaves, you could choose to cook
your food in an electric oven or on a hob.
All electric ovens come with an energy
rating. Choosing the right one can be a great
way to save energy and money. An A+ rated
electric oven can consume 40% less energy
than a B rated one, and cooking on a hob is
often more efficient than using an oven.
Tips for smart usage
• Cut food into smaller pieces before
cooking. It may cook more quickly.
• Cook vegetables by using just enough
water to cover the food. Put a lid on the
pan to keep the heat in.
• Always use the right size of pan for your
cooking ring.
• Keep the lid on the pan as much as
possible to keep the heat in.
• Use pans that can divide into sections
and cook several items at once.
• Cook big batches of food together and
freeze what you don’t need that day. It’s
more energy efficient to use all the oven
space available.
• Don’t keep opening the oven door
while you are cooking. Simple cooker
maintenance keeps the glass clean, so
you can peek in when you need to.
Eco Kettles
The average UK household puts the kettle on
1,500 times a year, making it one of our most
used kitchen appliances.
But it’s estimated that we boil twice as much
water as needed each time we use the kettle.
That wastes time, water and energy.
An ECO kettle can help cut bills. In
fact, the most energy efficient kettles
can use 20% less energy than standard
electric ones.