14 February 2008

Don’t say the ‘F’ word to Hotpoint when you get your electricity bill!

You expect to hear the ‘F’ word from 4x4 driving celebrity chefs, not when you walk into an electricals superstore, as all those energy guzzling E, F & G rated Washing Machines were phased out over ten years ago. Unfortunately ‘F’ energy rated tumble dryers are still on the streets and the budget £130 Hotpoint V3D01 could cost you a shocking £174 a year to run!

By using sust-it’s energy consumption website that ranks electricals by their energy efficiency, you can spot those appliances that contribute to your inflated electricity bills and CO2 emissions. The sust-it site is constantly updated and contains a wide range of products from Tumble Dryers to TV’s. You can even switch between electrical tariffs so you can see what energy price rises have in-store, and calculate your CO2 emissions at the same time.

Ross from sust-it said, “If you’re a consumer on a tight budget without access to drying space outside, and purchase this tumble dryer, you’re going to be in for a big shock when the bills arrive! This dryer use three-and-a-half times more electricity than an A rated machine. I don’t understand why Hotpoint is still selling a machine with such shocking energy consumption. They also seem content to bury the energy efficiency figures for this product on page 68 of a downloadable brochure on their website. Is it not time to ban the ‘F’ word in tumble dryers? I hope the sust-it website helps highlight these inefficient products as well as highlighting the real energy saving stars.”

So which tumble dryers perform the best? If money is no object then the AEG T59800 and John Lewis JLTDC01 Condenser Tumble Dryer are the top performers. They could dry nearly 900kg of washing a year for £49 compared to the Hotpoint V3D01’s £174. These dryers cost over £370 extra to buy; however you could be saving £125 per year on electricity – payback time 3 years. The average lifecycle of these machines is around 8 years – so a potential saving of £625 at current electricity prices. The modestly priced Hoover VHV180 Vented Tumble Dryer at £183 – could save you £105 per year compared to the Hotpoint, or £787 over the products life, including the purchase price difference.

Which Tumble Dryer is best for the environment? AEG & John Lewis. Which is best for your pocket and the environment? It’s got to be the Hoover.