There are a number of myths surrounding the efficiency of new household appliances: the main one being that because they are new, they must be more energy efficient and therefore better for the planet and our bank accounts.
However, there are some myths to debunk here. Evidence is stacking up that repairing rather than simply replacing appliances may be the way to go. This comes after a recent study by the German Environmental Protection Agency (Das Umweltbundesamt – UBA) on the repair of common household appliances such as dishwashers, dryers, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators and freezers. The results showed that in many cases, it makes sense, both financially and from a climate perspective, to continue using and repairing older household appliances. The main reason for this being that we have limited technical possibilities for producing more energy efficient appliances. At the same time, using household appliances for a longer period of time saves resources - both energy and material, and prevents increased levels of electrical waste from entering waste streams.
Across much of Europe, the electricity sector is rapidly shifting to renewable sources, which means household electricity use now contributes a smaller share of greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the energy required for manufacturing appliances has become a more significant factor in their overall environmental impact. The study commissioned by UBA finds that, given average household electricity consumption, replacing older appliances with new, more efficient models is neither financially nor environmentally worthwhile. Replacement only makes sense in cases where appliances are used very frequently and are highly inefficient.
According to calculations from the study, it is beneficial both financially and from a climate perspective to keep dishwashers and tumble dryers in use for as long as possible. Only heavily used and very inefficient appliances (according to the old energy efficiency classes: dishwashers in Class A, extractor dryers in Class D and condenser dryers in Class C) should be replaced with an appliance in the highest efficiency class (Class A).
Most of us don’t think twice about our appliance’s energy consumption, but in some cases it might really be worth checking this before deciding whether to replace or repair. For example, if you have an old fridge-freezer combo, here’s a simple rule: if it uses 340 kWh or more per year, swapping it for a new Class A model can save both energy and money. Appliances consuming 560 kWh or more make the upgrade financially worthwhile. That said, most modern fridges are already efficient, so this advice mainly applies to older models that are still running strong.
Vacuum cleaners don’t have energy labels, which makes comparison tricky. According to the UBA study, replacing an inefficient vacuum can make financial sense if it’s used 1.5 hours per week and has 1,800 watts or more. Ecologically, even one hour per week at 1,200 watts can justify a replacement, provided you choose a high-quality device that uses no more than 600 watts while maintaining the same suction. Corded or cordless, efficiency matters most.
So before rushing to buy new, remember repair can be the smarter option. Last year, the EU required that all Member States offer consumers at least one repair solution for some large household appliances and initiatives like Right to Repair continue to push for further consumer rights.
Some Member States such as France have even gone as far as to put the responsibility of repair costs on manufacturers and importers are responsible for repair costs in some cases.
Next time you open your fridge or vacuum your living room, ask yourself: is this machine costing me more than it should? Repair when possible, replace when necessary. New is not always better!