How to buy energy-efficient appliances

You don't need to rush out and replace working appliances. The most sustainable appliance is often the one you already have. But when the time comes to buy, knowing what to look for can make a real difference to your bills and environmental footprint.

Replace or keep? The honest answer

Manufacturing a new appliance uses energy and materials — so replacing a working one just to get a slightly better efficiency rating is usually not justified on environmental grounds. The calculation changes when:

• The appliance has failed or is unreliable — repair if cost-effective, replace if not.
• It is very old and runs continuously — fridges and freezers from fifteen or more years ago can use substantially more electricity than modern equivalents, because they run 24 hours a day. Here the running cost difference is large enough that replacing may make sense even before failure.
• Repair costs are high relative to replacement — a rule of thumb is that if a repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new appliance, replacement is worth considering. Check whether spare parts are available and whether a local repair person can fix it first.
• The appliance is grossly oversized for your needs — a large old fridge for one person, for example. Replacing with a well-matched, efficient smaller model can cut running costs noticeably.

In general: keep appliances working as long as is practical, repair rather than replace where cost-effective, and when you must replace, choose well.

Reading the energy label

Most countries require major appliances to carry an energy label. The formats vary — the EU and UK use a letter scale that was rescaled in 2021 (so a "new A" label is much stricter than the old A+++ system); Australia uses a star rating; the US uses the EnergyGuide label with an estimated annual energy cost. Different regions, different systems — but the core idea is universal.

What to look for on any energy label:

• The efficiency rating — usually a letter or number of stars. Higher is better. Because scales differ by country and have changed over time, a rating only means something relative to other products on sale in the same market.
• Annual energy consumption in kWh — this is the most directly useful figure. It is an estimated annual use based on standard test conditions. Multiply it by your electricity tariff (cost per kWh) to estimate what the appliance will cost to run per year. Compare this figure across models, not just the letter rating.
• Capacity — how large the appliance is. Comparing energy figures between a small and a large fridge is misleading; a larger fridge uses more energy because it has more space to keep cold, even if it is more efficient per litre.
• Water consumption — shown on labels for washing machines and dishwashers. Relevant if you pay for water or are in a water-scarce area.
• Noise level — shown on some labels (washing machines, dishwashers). Relevant for open-plan homes.

The annual kWh figure lets you compare true running cost rather than relying on a letter grade that may be calibrated differently across models or regions.

Right-size for your needs

Bigger is not better. A large appliance uses more energy than a smaller one doing the same job, and costs more to buy. Buy what you actually need:

• A fridge-freezer for a household of one or two does not need to be the same size as one serving five. A smaller, well-matched model will use less electricity and may cost less to buy.
• A washing machine is rated by drum capacity in kilograms. If you rarely have large loads, a medium-capacity machine suits you better and costs less to buy and run.
• For tumble dryers, only buy the capacity you actually need — an oversized drum uses more energy to tumble the same amount of laundry.
• Ovens: a full-size oven uses more energy than a compact oven or a countertop oven for small meals. If you often cook small amounts, a compact oven or air fryer is more efficient than a large main oven.

The appliances that matter most

Not all appliances are equal in their energy impact. Focus your buying decisions here:

• Fridge and fridge-freezer — these run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, never switching off. Efficiency matters more here than for any other appliance category. Even a modest efficiency improvement compounds significantly over a ten-year lifespan.
• Tumble dryer — one of the most energy-hungry appliances in the home. Air-drying is always better. If you do need a dryer, a heat-pump dryer is dramatically more efficient than a conventional condenser or vented dryer — it recycles hot air rather than generating fresh heat every cycle. Heat-pump dryers cost more upfront but the running cost difference is substantial over several years of use.
• Washing machine — modern machines are already fairly efficient, especially on cold or eco cycles. The biggest saving here is behavioural: wash at lower temperatures, run full loads, and use the eco programme.
• Dishwasher — modern efficient dishwashers typically use less water than washing by hand, and the eco cycle (though slower) uses less energy. Run full loads.
• Electric storage heaters — if you rely on these, they are a significant energy draw. Modern dynamic or high-heat-retention storage heaters are more controllable than old basic ones. This is a specialist area — check what is available and what incentives apply in your region.

Running cost vs purchase price

Appliances are priced on the shelf but they cost money every day they run. The total cost of ownership over the appliance's lifespan is what matters — and for appliances that run often or continuously, the running cost can exceed the purchase price over time.

A simple way to compare: take two models, note the annual kWh from each label, multiply by your electricity tariff, and multiply by the expected appliance lifespan (typically 10–15 years for fridges, 10–12 for washing machines). Add that to the purchase price. The model with the lower total is often the better deal even if it costs more upfront.

This calculation is most powerful for:

• Fridges and freezers (always on)
• Tumble dryers (high energy per cycle)
• Anything with a large efficiency gap between options

For appliances used occasionally, the running cost difference between models may be small enough that purchase price and reliability matter more.

Choosing a new appliance: step by step

1. Decide whether to repair or replace. Get a repair quote first if the appliance has failed. If repair is practical and affordable, that is usually the better option for both cost and environment.
2. Measure the space. Check the available height, width and depth, including clearance for door opening and ventilation. Fridges, washing machines and dryers all need specific space and airflow. Buying without measuring wastes time and may mean the appliance does not fit.
3. Decide on the right capacity for your household. A drum or fridge size that fits your actual typical load — not an aspirational maximum.
4. Find the energy label annual kWh figure for each model you are considering. This is usually in the product specification online or on the physical label in store. Use it to calculate estimated running costs using your electricity tariff.
5. Compare total cost of ownership not just purchase price. Add estimated running cost over 10 years to the purchase price for each shortlisted model.
6. Check reviews for reliability. An efficient appliance that breaks after three years is not a saving. Look for consumer review data and check the manufacturer's reputation for after-sales support and spare parts availability.
7. Check for retailer takeback and local recycling before completing the purchase. Many retailers offer to collect your old appliance on delivery — arrange this in advance rather than having to deal with it separately.

Disposing of the old one responsibly

Large appliances — fridges, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers — contain refrigerants, metals, plastics and electronic components that must be handled at a licensed facility. They should never go in general waste or be dumped.

• Retailer takeback. In many countries (EU, UK and others), retailers are legally required to take back an old appliance of the same type when delivering a new one. Ask about this when you purchase. It is often free or very low cost.
• Local council collection. Most local authorities provide bulky waste collection services for large appliances, either free or for a small charge. Check your local council's website.
• Household waste recycling centres (HWRC). Most recycling centres accept large appliances — fridges and freezers are collected separately because of the refrigerant gases.
• Donate if working. If the old appliance still works, consider donating it to a charity shop, community furniture project or reuse scheme before resorting to recycling. Someone else getting years more use from it is the best outcome.
• Scrap metal dealers will often collect old washing machines and similar for free, since they contain recoverable metal. Check local listings.

Your appliance buying checklist

• Try to repair before replacing — get a quote first.
• Measure the available space before shopping.
• Choose the capacity that matches your actual household needs, not the maximum.
• Compare annual kWh figures from energy labels — not just letter grades.
• Calculate total cost of ownership (purchase price plus estimated 10-year running cost) for shortlisted models.
• For dryers, consider a heat-pump model — the running cost difference over time is significant.
• Arrange retailer takeback or council collection of the old appliance before delivery day.
• If the old appliance still works, try donating it before recycling.