An energy crisis is finally washing ashore in the United States.

With Prices of natural gas trading about 94% higher than at the start of the year and 370% higher than the 2020 lows, rising crude oil prices resulting in higher gasoline prices at the pump, soaring electricity bills and 20 million households behind on their electricity bills. Though endowed with plentiful energy reserves, the United States can’t isolate itself from the impact of rising energy prices in the world.

The situation is not better in Europe. Inflation in the eurozone jumped to a new all-time high of 9.1 percent in August, fueled by rising energy costs. For many families across Europe these days, it feels like paycheques are immediately evaporating as inflation and energy crisis drive up the cost of groceries and fuel, landlords increase rent and utility bills keep soaring.

There’s no sign of the energy crisis improving any time soon. The rise in home energy costs this winter will put millions of lower-income families at risk of falling behind on their energy bills and having no choice but to make difficult decisions between paying for food, medicine and rent. As an electric appliance manufacturer engaging in higher electricity efficiency, we are to clarify which of your household devices use the most energy, as well as how to cut down the energy consumption.

Among all the domestic appliances, at top of the list are washing machines and dishwashers, which account for 14 percent of a typical energy bill. There is a link to heating, as the power needed to heat the water that these appliances use pushes up consumption, making them energy-hungry household appliances. In this case, there are tips to save energy.

1. Run the washing machine on a cooler cycle

Only run your washing machine with full loads to ensure fewer washes overall to reduce water and energy use.

2. Run the dishwasher on low temperature

Ensure it is always full before turning it on. You may need to rinse the dishes beforehand. If your electricity is cheaper at night, try to run the appliance overnight to save on cost. If you can, turn off the dishwasher before the drying cycle and let the dishes air dry instead.

Next up are fridges and freezers, which account for around 13 percent of the average household’s energy bill according to the Energy Saving Trust.

As these appliances stay on all the time and are among the longest-lasting appliances in the home, there’s a big benefit to investing in energy-efficient versions. If an appliance has a power saver mode or vacation mode, put it to use! Engaging the power saver mode will reduce energy consumption. But if it doesn’t have such a feature, try the following tips that are easily overlooked.

1. Give the fridge a cool place and some room to breathe

The position of the fridge can have an impact on how hard it has to work. Make sure it is as far away from heat sources like ovens and radiators as possible. Also, try to keep it out of direct sunlight.

Make sure there’s at least 5 cm of free space around the sides, the back and the top of your fridge for ventilation. Without this air gap, the fridge will not be able to release the heat from the compressor. In turn, this causes the fridge to heat up and work harder and longer to keep the food safe.

2. Keep the fridge full

A fuller fridge has less air to keep cool, so doesn’t have to work quite as hard as a sparsely populated appliance. When sufficiently loaded, items help keep each other cool. The refrigerator is better to be kept at least 2/3 full. If the fridge is too big, add jugs of water in both compartments. That said, don’t go cramming it full to bursting—good airflow is important for efficient refrigerator operation. Also, watch out for air vents and make sure items are not blocking them.

3. Don’t put hot food in the refrigerator

Putting hot food in the refrigerator raises the air temperature inside, so naturally, the appliance has to work hard to bring that temperature back down again. Some worry that leaving food out gives it a chance to spoil but allowing leftovers to reach room temperature before putting them in the refrigerator is perfectly safe.

Besides these simple tips to improve the appliance's energy efficiency, an energy-efficient home appliance can directly cut down electricity bills and reduce the cost of operations. New appliances bought during and after the energy crisis must be as efficient as possible to avoid increased energy consumption levels. The market is witnessing a jump of up to 40% in the demand for 5- star energy-efficient AC's, and refrigerators adoption too reflected a similar trend. For our distributors, those highly energy-efficient appliances are highly recommended.