High energy bills can be frustrating, especially if you are trying to cut back on your electricity, but the answer to cutting back on costs may lie in the kitchen. 

One in five Brits is unaware that home appliances use energy when not in use, but many people are unsure what is necessary to unplug and how to save money on devices that always need to be switched on, such as the fridge. 

Hannah Maza, an energy expert from Green Match has explained the kitchen is one of the worst areas of the home for wasting energy, but there are simple steps British households can take to avoid increased bills. 

She said: The kitchen is one of the rooms with the most vampire devices because, by nature, appliances like fridges and freezers need to constantly stay on. 

“In fact, your kitchen appliances account for approximately 17 percent of the average household’s electricity bill.”

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Microwave 

On average, a microwave costs 7p to run every 10 minutes when in use, and can cost you an extra £16.37 if left on standby plugged in. 

You can help reduce additional costs to your energy bills by unplugging, but overall microwaves tend to cost less to use when cooking than the oven. 

Hannah explained: “It may be surprising, but in terms of energy, microwaves are more efficient and quicker at cooking than ovens as they only need to heat the food itself, not the air space inside. 

“They’re also more energy efficient and have an appliance energy transfer rate of 30-40 percent while stoves have only 12-14 percent.” 

Fridge

Over a year, the average fridge uses 165kWh of energy, which can cost you 9p worth of energy daily and amount to spending an additional £46 on this device alone. 

Fridges need to be turned on at all times to preserve food, but when buying a fridge you can help save money in the long run by buying one that does not consume too much energy, which generally rends to one without extra features. 

Hannah said: “When buying a fridge, you do have control over how energy-efficient your fridge is. 

“Given that a refrigerator can last up to 17 years, you’ll want to invest in one that saves energy and money.” 

Dishwasher 

In only one hour an average dishwasher uses 1.2kWh of energy, which costs you 36p. For every 100 washes you load, that amounts to £36. 

When on standby, a dishwasher uses 3W, but this can add an extra £7.44 to your energy bills yearly. 

It may seem obvious to try and wash dishes by hand in an attempt to save energy but this actually does not work as it uses much more water. 

Hannah explained: “A dishwasher uses 10 times less water than if you were to wash the same number of dishes by hand.

“The best way to save on energy using a dishwasher would be to only do full loads. As a bonus, if your dishwasher has an ‘eco’ setting, it can save you energy because it washes for longer, but at a lower temperature.”