Following a recent government study, found that the understanding of appliance energy rating labels “moderate” or “low” were often confusing for consumers, Hotpoint’s Laundry Category Manager, Vivien Fodor, has shared her knowledge on the energy ratings.
Ms Fodor explained that energy ratings are rated on a scale of A-G, the most efficient appliances have an A (dark green) rating and the least efficient have a G (red) rating. The rating is based on how the appliance performs compared to similar models and is generally categorised by size.
She explained that it is important to consider what size works best for your household. “Buying a large family-sized dishwasher with a 15 place setting capacity and an A energy rating may not make sense if you live alone and won’t fill it every wash. Energy labels also display energy consumption in kWh and provide specific information depending on the appliance. Washing machines show capacity, duration, and water consumption, while dishwashers show water use per wash,” she said.
Ms Fodor provided a list of things for your consumers to look out for when choosing a dishwasher, tumble dryer or washing machine.
In regards to tumble dryers, she said: “Condenser and vented dryers can be inefficient to run, more consumers are making the switch to energy-efficient heat pump models. Heat pump dryers can take longer to dry laundry than vented models, however they are more efficient as they do not use a heated element to dry laundry and instead recirculate air to gently dry clothing, providing lower and cooler temperatures which are gentle on clothes.”
She continued by saying that Hotpoint’s NT M11 82XB heat pump dryer uses 55p per cycle, while its condenser can cost on average £1.43 per cycle.
Ms Fodor explained: “Modern dishwashers like the Hotpoint Hydroforce have auto programmes that automatically adjust the energy, water, and time based on the level of dirt on your dishes and kitchenware – saving up to 50 per cent on resources used. The larger capacity from the Maxi Space Tub gives an extra 10 per cent space, whilst the third rack with integrated spray jets offers more space for full sized items, allowing you to run less cycles but still achieve a powerful and sparkling clean.
“Washing stained clothes at low temperatures is a winning combination – resulting in lower energy bills whilst being kind to laundry. Look out for washers that can deliver results, such as the Hotpoint ActiveCare which remove stains at temperatures as low as 20°C. ActiveCare technology pre-mixes water and detergent to create a powerful cleaning mousse that penetrates deeply into fabrics, even at low temperatures, removing stubborn stains, such as wine, coffee, oil and tomato sauce.”
Ms Fodor gave her thoughts on some of the myth busting energy misconceptions. “Washing 14 place settings (140 items) by hand uses 63 litres of water. Washing the same amount using the Hotpoint Hydroforce dishwasher to clean the same number of items uses 9.5 litres – saving almost 85% of water (and freeing up your time in the process).
“Washing machines are designed to save resources wherever possible. That means they conduct several checks mid-cycle to calculate and adjust water, energy, and detergent usage. This can impact the time it takes to fill, wash, or spin, meaning the time a cycle will take to complete is sometimes slightly longer or quicker than originally estimated.
