British state pensioners are being told to pull the plug on six pricey kitchen gadgets amid fears they’re costing too much to run. With the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance slashed, there’s a stark warning for those who lose out.
The over-the-top cost of kettles, ovens, hobs, air fryers, grills and microwaves — costing £2.72 every hour — is set to be a huge issue . Christopher White, head honcho at Vacuum Wars, piped up about the research findings: “The findings from this study highlight that certain household appliances, particularly those used frequently for daily tasks, are some of the most expensive to run in the UK.”
“This is especially impactful given the dominance of such appliances in households. These small costs add up over time, creating a significant financial burden for households. Encouraging more efficient use of appliances, investing in energy-saving models, and adopting alternative methods for everyday tasks could all contribute to lowering energy consumption and ultimately, bringing down household bills.”
“Additionally, increased awareness about the best times to use high-energy appliances, such as during off-peak hours, could reduce costs,” reports Birmingham Live.
Hobs cost 37p per ring, while air fryers and microwaves cost 26p. Vacuum cleaners cost 18p. When it comes to the cheapest appliance to run in terms of per-hour cost, extractor fans are the cheapest appliance to run at just £0.002 an hour, which adds up to 67p per year.
The third most expensive appliance to run is the kettle, which will set you back 67p per hour, according to the study. If you make a hot drink with a kettle four or five times a day, an electric kettle can easily be powered for 20 minutes a day when boiled throughout the day, resulting in a yearly cost of £81.97.
Grills and ovens are the fourth on the list, with an hourly running cost of £0.54. According to Power NI, ovens and grills are used for an hour per day, on average, over the course of a year, resulting in an extra £196.74 each year in electricity bills.
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