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Most household electrical appliances – from washing machines to water heaters – are now sold with an ‘eco’ mode designed to be greener and more efficient than the default settings.
This mode is usually found via a button or an option on a dial. But running the washing machine or dishwasher on eco often takes much longer than a quick wash. So, can eco-settings really save you energy and money – or are they just a green-washing gimmick?
WASHING MACHINE
Running a washing machine on the eco setting normally takes at least two hours. But Andrew Lord, director of Lords Electrical Shop in Wigston, Leicestershire, says counterintuitively this can still use less energy than a 30-minute quick wash.
Cashing in: Most household electrical appliances are now sold with an ‘eco’ mode designed to be more efficient than the default settings
“When you’re on eco mode, clothes soak longer and use less water,” he says.
Lord explains that the same temperatures are achieved in eco mode as in the standard settings. However, since the water takes longer to heat up in eco mode, less energy is used.
He uses a car analogy to explain, saying, “A car entering a highway at 100 mph will arrive much faster than it would at 50 mph, but it uses much more fuel.”
Lord says the eco mode uses 20 percent less energy. A two hour cycle costs around £1.43. Therefore, using the eco mode can save 28 cents per wash. However, the biggest savings come from running the washing machine at a lower temperature. Lowering it from 40 to 30 degrees uses just over half the energy and still does a thorough job of cleaning clothes, according to consumer group Which?
Washing at a lower temperature on a standard wash would save about 71 cents. Also use the eco mode and you could lower it even further to 57p.
VERDICT: Could shave 86p from running a wash.
TELEVISION
Modern TVs usually have an eco mode setting tucked away in a menu that can be accessed via the remote control.
But consumer publication What Hi-Fi? warns that this is generally little more than a gimmick. It hurts performance and the savings are small.
“Before you rush to make sure your TV is running in eco mode, there’s one major drawback to consider: it can really ruin your picture quality,” it reads.
A modern LCD flat screen TV consumes about 0.12 kWh (4 p over an hour). The eco mode lowers the dynamic range of the lighting, so the image is much dimmer – saving you no more than about a penny every two hours.
VERDICT: Avoid for a clear view.
GAS BOILER
When cranking up the central heating you may have noticed that there is an eco mode on the controls. Manufacturer Worcester estimates that this setting typically uses 10 percent less energy.
According to the calculations, you could save up to 750 kWh in a year. With gas prices currently capped at 10.3 pence per kWh, that equates to savings of £77 per year. However, there is a downside. The feature works by turning off your preheat settings. That means that when you turn on the hot water tap, you may have to wait ten seconds for the water to reach the desired temperature.
As utility bills rise, you may decide that this is an inconvenience worth putting up with. Of course there are many other ways to make your boiler work cheaper, such as turning down the thermostat, turning off radiators in rooms that are not being used and keeping the space free for radiators so that the heat can circulate freely.
VERDICT: You can save up to € 77 per year.
FRIDGE FREEZER
Most refrigerators and freezers have an eco mode. However, it is designed for when the fridge freezer is not opened regularly, for example when you are on holiday.
That’s because when the door is closed for extended periods of time, cold air can’t escape, so it can use less energy to keep it just as cool.
Using the eco mode at these times can save about 15 percent on annual costs.
According to consumer magazine Ideal Home, the average fridge-freezer uses about 275 kWh of energy per year.
With the current energy price cap this works out to around £94. So eco mode would save £14 a year.
On some models, such as a Beko refrigerator with freezer compartment, it is possible to choose that the eco mode is automatically activated as soon as the door has been closed for six consecutive hours.
VERDICT: Average savings of £14 per year and food stays fresh.
DRYER
Tumble dryers use an average of about 4.8 kWh of energy, which works out to about £1.63 per hour. Some have an eco mode that leaves clothes very slightly damp – perfect for ironing, but not for placing directly in cupboards and wardrobes.
This setting can reduce drying time by about ten minutes, saving nearly 30 cents on the cost. If you use your dryer often, the savings can add up quickly.
However, much more can be saved with the eco mode on dryers that contain a heat pump.
These use less than half the electricity because they reheat the air that is already hot after passing through the drum.
These models usually cost about twice as much as a standard dryer – about £500 instead of £250. However, if you only run the dryer three times a week, you’ll save about £143 a year and in the second year it should pay for itself.
VERDICT: The biggest savings require investment.
Spin doctor: Andrew Lord says an ‘eco’ washing program uses less energy
DISHWASHER
A typical dishwasher costs around £1.02 for a standard wash.
Eco mode usually lasts at least half an hour longer, but uses less energy. Due to the extra time, the dishes have longer to soak and are therefore just as clean, but at a lower temperature.
Which one? spokesman says: ‘We have found that eco modes on dishwashers can use between 20 and 40 percent less energy than traditional normal settings.
“They usually last longer than a standard wash, but more than a year yields big savings.”
In an average home, the dishwasher runs five times a week. The savings over a year can be as much as £106.
VERDICT: Clean up on big savings.
… EVEN THE CAR
Many modern cars have an eco mode to improve fuel economy.
Once the eco button is pressed, the accelerator pedal responds less quickly and the engine is reduced to a lower power.
It means you drive at a more consistent pace and use less fuel. Manufacturers such as BMW, Ford, Honda and Toyota offer the option as standard in most new cars.
They may also include lowering heating and air conditioning levels. Some also automatically turn off the engine at red traffic lights and turn it back on the moment you touch the accelerator.
Fuel savings typically range from 7 percent with the Hyundai Active Eco system to 24 percent for the Ford Focus.
Motorists spend an average of more than £1,000 a year on fuel, according to personal finance researcher NimbleFinance.
So driving in eco mode could save £240 over the year.
VERDICT: A smoother journey and good savings.
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