"
The RTE asks the French who can to shift their electricity consumption to this weekend rather than Monday with regard to the use of household appliances
".
The call from the manager of the national electricity network, linked to the major cold spell currently affecting the country, can also prompt us to review our consumption of everyday appliances.
Fridge, dryer, electric oven, which appliances consume the most energy?
And what are the best ways to moderate their consumption?
Le Figaro
takes stock.
To discover
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The fridge freezer
With an average annual consumption of nearly 400 kWh per year according to the ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency), the combination of these two conservation devices is undeniably the most energy-intensive.
Although they are essential, there are ways to best limit the consumption of these two devices.
From a practical point of view, it is preferable to adopt the right temperature settings: between 4 and 5 degrees for the refrigerator, -18 degrees for the freezer.
It is also necessary to maintain your appliance regularly, in particular the rear grille and the seals.
According to ADEME, “
accumulated dust and dirt can be the source of 30% of the electricity consumed by the device
”.
Finally, be sure to let the air circulate in the device and not to pile the food too much.
It is also not recommended to leave the doors open too long.
Read alsoCold wave in France: electricity consumption slightly lower than expected, according to RTE
The dryer and the washing machine
The two devices consume on average respectively 200 and 100 kWh per year, according to ADEME.
As with the fridge and freezer, there are simple habits to limit their energy impact.
The tumble dryer accounts for around 15% of a household's annual electricity consumption.
To limit electricity consumption, do not overload the drum too much in order to let the hot air circulate well inside, and clean the filter regularly.
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For the washing machine, favor low temperatures, a wash at 30 degrees consuming three times less energy than a wash at 90 degrees, a cold wash two times less than a wash at 40 degrees.
Don't hesitate to make use of the “
Eco
” program which saves water and therefore energy.
Finally, be sure to optimize the filling of the drum to include the maximum amount of clothing.
The dish-washer
First recommendation from ADEME: "
Consider changing your dishwasher if it is old
".
With an average annual consumption of about 180 kWh per year, a change of device may be welcome, recent models consuming half the water than those of ten years ago.
Considering the fact that 80% of the energy consumed by a dishwasher is used to heat the water, the less the appliance consumes water, the less energy it consumes.
As for the washing machine, favor the "
Eco
" or "
50 degrees
" mode which can reduce consumption by up to 45% compared to an intensive program.
More generally, it is preferable to remove the crumbs from the dishes beforehand, to clean the filter and the seals regularly and to start the machine at off-peak hours if your tariff option allows it.
Read alsoElectricity prices: energy unions seize the Council of State
Hobs and oven
With an annual consumption of approximately 120 kWh for the plates and 100 kWh for the oven, cooking food is expensive in terms of energy.
For hobs, a simple tip exists when boiling water: put a lid on the pan, the water will boil faster and you will use about four times less energy.
For fans of convection ovens, take the opportunity to cook several dishes at the same time, you will save cooking time and therefore energy.
IT and high-tech equipment
According to ADEME, "
the computer equipment of the French represents an increasingly important part of their electricity consumption
".
Starting with the internet box which would consume between 150 and 300 kWh per year for each household.
Insofar as 93% of French people had internet access in 2021 (Insee), the energy impact is growing.
The desktop computer consumes between 120 and 250 kWh annually, the laptop between 30 and 100 kWh.
For television, the impact is also significant insofar as its consumption when it is on standby for 20 hours is equivalent to that of four hours of viewing.
To note
It is therefore advisable to unplug it after each use, or to plug it into a power strip equipped with a switch.