KEY POINTS
- Heating/cooling typically consumes the most energy in Australian homes.
- Other energy-intensive home appliances include hot water systems, fridges, home entertainment, ovens, washing machines and clothes dryers.
- The best way to reduce your energy bills is to compare energy plans and deals in your state or territory.
Aussies value their creature comforts at home. Life without air-conditioning or hot water is unimaginable today. Who doesn’t like being able to heat or cool their homes at will?
However, not all home appliances are made equal. Some consume far more electricity than others. If left unchecked, your energy bills can quickly start piling up.
This Canstar Blue article investigates what home appliances use the most power and provides tips on how to save on your energy bills
On this page:
What uses the most electricity in the home in Australia?
According to the Department for Energy and Mining and NSW Climate Action, heating/cooling or air conditioning typically uses the most electricity in a home, comprising the largest proportion of consumption by a single appliance.
This is unsurprising, especially during scorching summer temperatures and icy winter chills. However, there are novel ways to utilise your air-conditioning or heating effectively and reduce your reliance upon it:
- Reverse-cycle air conditioners are the most energy-efficient type of heating/cooling. However, households have different warming or cooling needs, so we recommend doing your research.
- Managing the temperature range of your air-conditioner can help reduce some energy costs, particularly during warmer months.
- In summer, using a fan in conjunction with your air-conditioning to circulate cool air instead of lowering the temperature can help reduce energy usage by up to 70%.
- Setting a timer for air-conditioner usage and sealing doors, windows and unused areas keeps running costs down.
Want to know more about how much switching your air conditioner on is costing you? Find out in Canstar Blue’s air conditioning running costs guide.
Other appliances that consume the most energy at home
Air conditioning may be power hungry, but it isn’t the only culprit contributing to energy inefficiency.
Canstar Blue has listed the top five energy-draining appliances below in descending order, as well as cost guides for each.
1. Hot Water Systems
Another energy guzzler, hot water systems consume an abundance of electricity, with several sources listing it as the second most power-hungry home appliance.
Many modern Aussies cannot live without on-demand hot water, but there are ways to reduce its wastage without giving up on our precious hot showers:
- Generally, solar hot water systems and continuous flow hot water systems consume the least energy. However, we recommend doing your research based on your personal needs and wants.
- If you are using a solar hot water system with a booster switch, consider turning it off during non-use when solar energy is abundant to avoid energy wastage.
- If you are using a solar hot water system, consider installing a hot water system timer to maximise solar energy consumption instead of grid energy.
- Make sure your hot water system is up to date — older models may prove to be less efficient than their modern counterparts, resulting in higher operating costs.
- Keep your hot showers brief and use a low-flow shower head that consumes less hot water per minute.
Find out more about how you can save on your hot water bill with Canstar Blue’s hot water guide.
2. Fridges
Refrigerators are appliances that constantly use electricity.
A fridge that is too big can waste unnecessary energy, while choosing one that is too small could require purchasing and powering at least one more fridge.
Regardless of the make or model, we recommend considering the following to make the most of your investment:
- Make sure you purchase the right size of fridge, catering to the number of intended users:
- 1-2 people, 250 to 380 L
- 3-4 people, 350 to 530 L
- 4-5 people, 440 L or more
- Optimising fridge position with 5 cm for each side and 10 cm at the top/back for ventilation improves its cooling efficiency.
Our Canstar Blue guide on freezer and fridge temperatures recommends maintaining a fridge temperature below 5°C and freezer temperature below -18°C for food safety and energy efficiency.
Want to know how much running your fridge is costing you? Find out in Canstar Blue’s refrigerator running cost analysis.
3. Home entertainment
While entertainment devices represent an umbrella of appliances, when combined, they represent a significant portion of household energy costs.
Entertainment devices such as a PlayStation 5 are typically left on standby permanently and consume energy during peak times.
According to Sustainability Victoria, standby power can account for up to 10% of your electricity bill.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have your fun while cutting back on your energy spend:
- Opt for more energy-efficient options when purchasing a new one.
- You can save energy by turning appliances off at the power outlet when not in use instead of leaving them on standby.
How much is your entertainment setup costing you? Find out with Canstar Blue’s TV running cost guide.
4. Oven
Whipping up new recipes in the kitchen contributes to how much you’re spending on your energy bill. However, the tried-and-true oven is by far the most energy-intensive kitchenware.
If you are a household that uses the oven a lot, it’s important to understand how it could impact your energy bill.
Whether you use electricity or natural gas to power your oven can play a significant role in how much your usage will cost you, with gas ovens typically being cheaper to operate.
- Here are some simple ways to manage how much energy your oven is burning through: Oven settings and controls impact your usage amounts, so be sure to read and understand your oven features.
- To improve your oven’s energy efficiency, use pots with lids and make sure the oven door is closed whenever possible.
- If you’re a small household, using smaller appliances such as an air fryer or stove top could be more cost-effective.
How much is cooking your meals costing you? Find out with Canstar Blue’s gas vs electric oven running cost guide.
5. Washing machine
Picking the right-sized washing machine for your household is an important first step when trying to save energy.
Energy efficiency can vary for washing machines, mainly depending on whether you have a top loader or front loader model. Thankfully, you can still easily cut down your energy usage without giving up on sparkly clean clothes:
- Front loaders use half the amount of electricity of top loaders. For more information, we recommend visiting our washing machine running costs guide.
- You can reduce up to 80% of energy usage by opting for the cold wash option.
- Maximise each cycle by loading the machine to full capacity.
- Use eco-friendly modes or cycles when washing a load.
See where you could be saving with your laundry habits in Canstar Blue’s washing machine running cost analysis.
6. Clothes dryer
Sometimes, on cloudy days with barely any sunlight, you may not have a choice but to load the clothes dryer up. Household usage habits will directly affect the cost of operating a clothes dryer. Energy use will also vary depending on what type of dryer you have.
Controlling how much electricity your clothes dryer is guzzling is fairly easy:
- On sunny days, use a clothesline instead to dry your clothes.
- Avoid overfilling the dryer, this will slow down the drying process and lead to greater energy usage.
- If you’re on a peak/off-peak electricity plan, schedule washing and drying during off-peak electricity hours to take advantage of lower electricity costs.
See how much it costs to run your clothes dryer with Canstar Blue’s dryer running cost guide.
Compare cheap electricity plans
Identifying high energy users at home is one way to lower your energy plan, while another involves ensuring that you are on the cheapest plan available in your state. Below are some cheap plans according to Canstar Blue’s current database.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
How do I find out which appliances use too much electricity?
Home appliances with low energy efficiency ratings can lead to energy bill shock. Some home appliances can contribute more to energy usage than others.
The easiest way to assess the energy efficiency ratings on your appliance is to visit the Energy Rating website. The government’s Energy Rating website is a good place to start when considering home electricity consumption and running costs.
It also helps to know how to read electricity ratings on each appliance to determine how energy-efficient they are. These ratings are in the user manual or on the Energy Rating sticker at the front or side of the appliance.
An alternative starting point is to study the ‘energy usage summary’ section of your energy bill to compare your consumption habits against homes in your area as a benchmark.
When assessing how much energy appliances use, consider your individual usage requirements that can put costs beyond the “average user” range.
For a more detailed assessment, you may track home appliance usage through a home energy monitor or mobile phone app from your power company (this is only applicable if you have a smart meter installed).
Tips to save on your home energy bill
Once you’ve installed energy monitoring equipment, you will have a more clinical overview of your energy habits.
From here, you can:
- Find out what consumes the most energy in your home
- Approximate your appliance usage
- Find out how much your provider charges per kWh of electricity
- Calculate their approximate running costs
- Invest in solar panels and other solar peripherals, such as a solar battery or solar pool pump (depending on your lifestyle)
- Make your home more energy efficient with passive fixtures such as double-glazed windows and natural ventilation.
- Adjust your energy depending on the season (e.g. winter and summer)
Searching for energy-drainers at home can contribute to a more manageable electricity bill next quarter. You can also consider more energy-efficient appliances.
Original reporting by Jared Mullane
Image Source: arturnichiporenko/Shutterstock.com
Refrigerators, freezers and ovens are arguably the most frequently used and energy-hungry kitchen appliances. When making your next purchase, consider paying upfront for more energy-efficient models. Also keep in mind that even though the fridge and oven are the biggest kitchen energy drainers, even your kettle can add to your energy bill.
According to AGL’s website, average washing machine and dryer usage represents the majority of laundry energy use.
An average Australian lounge room has a variety of electrical appliances. Although fish tanks can use more energy than you might realise, your television and air conditioner remain the biggest energy users in that part of the house.
Share this article