Many of us are concerned about rising energy bills but figuring out how much large kitchen appliances cost to run can be hard.
Leading electrical retailer Currys can help. Not alone does it have all the latest in energy saving kitchen technology, but its staff are trained to help do the maths for you. Thanks to its use of the Youreko online energy comparison tool, you can see how much cash its Go Greener range of eco-efficient appliances will save you over a ten-year run time.
Cost in use is a new way to calculate the real outlay of an appliance and something that more and more customers are concerned about. A cheaply priced washing machine, for example, may end up costing way more to run that a more expensive model. “Six months ago, it was all about price. Now the questions are all about the energy rating of a particular appliance,” explains Joe Crabbe, kitchen appliance sales manager at Currys in Dublin’s Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.
“People want to know if the appliance they are considering has an app so that they can switch it on remotely via their mobile phone, at a time that’s convenient for them. If they are on a cheaper night saver electricity tariff, for example, it means they can put on a wash when they’re watching telly late at night and save money.”
With washing machines people increasingly want to know if it has a fast- or ‘eco’ wash facility, he adds.
“Despite this growing concern about energy usage and electricity costs, too few consumers realise that most of the energy your washing machine consumes on a standard cycle is down to the heating of the water. People think the spin is the most energy intensive part of the wash cycle, but it’s not. So, you can save money on your wash by simply lowering the temperature to 30 or even 20 degrees.”
“New European energy standards make it easier for consumers to understand the rating of each appliance. Currys Go Greener campaign makes it even easier to choose”
New European energy standards make it easier for consumers to understand the energy rating of each appliance. But opting for one of the range of products listed in the current Currys Go Greener campaign makes it even easier to choose.
You can see how much you stand to save through Youreko, an online energy comparison tool available at Currys.ie.
It allows you to see the kind of savings you would make if washing clothes five times a week for 10 years on a particular machine, for example.
“We are going one step further to show you exactly what the energy savings are, in cash, over time,” says Joe.
Get savvy about savings
One of Joe’s favourite appliances in the Go Greener range is the Grundig FiberCatcher washing machine with Bluetooth technology, €599.99.
This 9kg capacity machine, which has a spin speed of 1400 rpm and a quick wash time of just 14 minutes for small loads, allows you manage your washing machine from your phone.
Best of all for him is its FiberCatcher filter which catches up to 90 per cent of plastic microfibres discharged during synthetic washes, which helps to protect marine ecosystems from pollution. “Its tubs are made of recycled plastic bottles too, to reduce waste plastic even further,” he says.
Another savvy option from its Go Greener initiative is the Hotpoint NDD 9636 washer dryer, €679.99.
It has a steam hygiene cycle that can remove up to 99.9 per cent of common bacteria and viruses, without any need for harsh chemicals, and a steam refresh function that lets you wear your clothes for longer before they need a full wash.
If you need a tumble dryer, he recommends the Samsung Series 6 WiFi enabled heat pump unit, €979.99.
It is at the higher end of the price scale, but heat pump machines help to save energy thanks their use of heat exchange systems, making them better for the environment and your energy bills. It’s a more cost-effective way of drying that uses a lower temperature than conventional dryers. “So, it’s better for your clothes too,” he says.
In his own home Joe has installed a Samsung 8 Series American-style fridge freezer, €2699.99
As well as a food freshness feature to keep fruit and veg fresher for longer, it gives him the space he needs to buy and store food in bulk before batch cooking and freezing. “I like the efficiency of it, and I can save a lot of money by buying in bulk and freezing. This particular model uses 43 per cent less energy than others,” he points out. Given that fridges and freezers are constantly on, those savings really add up over time.
A no-frost feature keeps the temperature even and stops ice from building up too, ensuring it operates to maximum energy efficiency.
But the efficiencies don’t end there. “For a limited time, we’re also offering free delivery on Go Greener appliances.”
So, to maximise savings and minimise energy, Go Greener with Currys.
Prices correct at time of publishing.