Energy costs - the second price tag

Once you have bought an appliance, the only real ongoing costs are the energy (plus water and detergent for some appliances). Many of us tend to overlook energy costs as they are hard to determine from our normal electricity bill. However, simple calculations show that over the life of a typical appliance, these energy costs are often equal to or greater than the initial purchase cost.

By looking for the most energy efficient models in the size and type of product you are considering, you can make a large reduction in the energy costs you have to pay over the next 10 to 20 years. For some products the least efficient appliance can cost twice as much to operate as the most efficient model.

So look for the stars and save on your running costs in future years. You will also help to reduce the impact on the environment.

The interactive products lists also show typical operating costs (there is a built in cost calculator on the web site) to help you accurately calculate operating costs and potential savings.

This page last modified 02 February 2009