It’s E-lementary – how to put energy efficiency at the top of your shopping list

Every new large electrical appliance will now carry indicators of its energy usage levels to help a potential customer make their buying choices with energy efficiency in mind. As people buy and use increasing numbers of electrical appliances, they can help prevent their energy costs from rising out of control by buying the most energy-efficient products available, and then using them in a responsible way. Latest figures from the Energy Saving Trust show that we are Europe’s biggest spenders on electrical gear, spending over £12billion every year in the UK on new gadgets such as plasma TVs, games consoles and home entertainment systems. Our love affair with technology has created an insatiable thirst for exploring its capabilities – and consequently, for more power. The fact that we have also come to expect it to be available, literally, at the flick of a switch, also means that power has to be there when and where we want it – and of course, that means we ultimately have to pay for it to be produced. A massive £4.7billion of electricity is currently spent every year in the UK powering consumer electronic and computer products alone - that's more than 30 per cent of the average household electricity bill. Thankfully, there are a few simple things you can do when choosing electronic equipment to save money and energy in your home. Here is a step-by-step guide to shopping with energy efficiency in mind: 1. Research your products before you shop - There's no need to compromise on functionality or specifications to be more energy efficient. Many of the latest and most sophisticated electrical products carry the Energy Saving Recommended logo, which can be found on a wide range of products from kitchen appliances including washing machines and fridges, televisions and set top boxes. 2. Ask in store – Well-trained sales staff should have a good working knowledge of the features and benefits of each product, so be sure to ask them: -Whether it is Energy Saving Recommended - How much energy the product uses when on standby - Whether the product has any special energy efficient features such as automatic standby which powers appliances down if they are not used for a certain amount of time, or screen blanking which allows you to listen to digital radio on your TV without using excess energy. 3. Look out for integrated appliances - fewer products means less electricity so for example, buying an integrated digital television, which combines a TV with a digital receiver, is good for both your pocket and the environment. There are a range of home appliances available such as tumble dryers with in-built appliances such as washer dryers and much more.

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