Households can slash their energy bills by simple changes in the home, says a new study

Wednesday 17 October 2012

A pilot study by the University of Surrey examining how appliances are used in the home suggests that ‘green-minded’ consumers can be great at switching off phone chargers at night, which can save a small amount of electricity, but have little idea how to achieve far greater electricity savings by checking energy labels when they buy appliances or changing to a low temperature wash.

Professor Matthew Leach, of the Centre for Environmental Strategy, who led the study said: “One household in our study saved almost 60% on the energy used in their existing washing machine, just by switching to a low temperature wash, with still great cleaning results.

“Cash and carbon savings from changing behaviour can be added to the savings from using more modern appliances to become something really significant.”

Huge improvements in appliance performance now mean that replacing an old fridge freezer can bring the same environmental benefit as installing double-glazing according to AMDEA (The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances)

“Today’s new fridge freezer uses just half the power of a new model 20 years ago, and a chest freezer about a third”, says Douglas Herbison, Chief Executive of AMDEA.

“When you consider that appliances are also generally bigger that is a remarkable result. The problem is that consumers aren’t being encouraged to replace their old appliances through schemes such as the Green Deal, even though the environmental benefits are very significant and changing a fridge freezer is far simpler than, for example, double-glazing your flat.”

In conclusion AMDEA’s  Douglas Herbison proposed: “Including major appliances in the Green Deal or a similar scheme has the potential of an all round winner.

"As well as the savings on household bills, and greenhouse gas emissions, this could encourage millions of consumers to upgrade their kitchens – providing considerable work for skilled tradesmen and for young people just starting out on their careers.”

Today (Oct 18 2012) the industry body is calling on the Government to work with them to encourage consumers to invest in energy efficient models and use energy saving features – to cut their electricity bills and carbon dioxide emissions.

The industry is also concerned that cuts in the budget for energy efficiency education mean that consumers have an unfocused view of how to save money and energy, and so energy efficiency features on modern appliances are going unused.

Download the University of Surrey Efficient Household Appliances pilot study at www.amdea.org.uk or www.t2c.org.uk

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Notes for Editors

University of Surrey Pilot Study Key findings:

• Participants keen to switch off lights and phone chargers, avoid standby etc, yet very little understanding of energy labels.

• When their 5-10 year old appliances were changed for fairly standard up-to-date (A or A+) models:

- fridge freezer replacement yielded 40% - 60% savings

- dishwashers and washing machines saved  8% - 21%

• Switching to a lower temperature yielded energy savings of:

- 35% and 59% on washing machines

- 19% to 34% on dishwashers

• Reducing the wash temperature and putting in a new replacement  washing machine practically halved energy use (-48%)

Context:

- An Estimated15 million old fridges, freezers and washing machines (ten or many more years) are still in use in UK homes. (Market Transformation Programme 2007)

- Large appliances that chill, wash, dry or cook comprise approx. 44% total household electricity consumption. (Intertek, 2012, Report R66141, Household Electricity Survey)

- Replacing a 20 year old fridge freezer can save 370kg CO2  and £100 p.a. in electricity ( AMDEA http://www.t2c.org.uk/chilling/new-case-study-of-20-yr-old-fridge )

- Replacing a 10 year old fridge freezer saves 243 kg CO2 p.a.(University of Surrey/AMDEA)

- Double glazing a typical flat would save 330 kg CO2 p.a. replacing 6.7m 2 of timber single-frame windows with A rated double glazing)

- Since 1990 fridge freezer electricity consumption has reduced by 49% and chest freezer consumption by 65%.

- (DECC, Domestic Energy Consumption in the UK, July 2012, Table 3.13)

Editors' Notes

About AMDEA:

AMDEA is the UK trade association for manufacturers of large and small domestic appliances; representing over 80% of the domestic appliance industry.  Members’ products include most of the UK’s top selling brands of major white goods, other large and small kitchen appliances, heating, water heating, floor care, waste disposal and ventilation equipment.

About University of Surrey:

The University of Surrey is one of the UK's leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research.

Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life - helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defence and social policy.

Programmes in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programmes in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law. In addition to the campus on 150 hectares just outside Guildford, Surrey, the University also owns and runs the Surrey Research Park, which provides facilities for 140 companies employing 2,700 staff.

Surrey is a member of the 1994 Group of 19 leading research-intensive universities.  The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching.  Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience. www.1994group.ac.uk   

Press contacts for further details:
AMDEA Press Office
Dee Fernandes or Philippa Dovar
Tel: 020 7722 9034 e-mail: amdeapress@bfipr.co.uk

Media Enquiries

Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 686141, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk