Saving energy saves money, so it's important to bear energy efficiency in mind when buying any new appliance. The more efficient the product, the less energy it uses, so the less it costs to run.

Saving energy by selecting more efficient models is particularly important for products that are used frequently or continuously, over many years. Even a small energy saving can make a huge impact when the life of the product is taken into account.

Because we need to think about our impact on the environment, it's good to know that using less energy reduces your carbon footprint.

By law, many domestic appliances, including fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and ovens must now meet strict criteria on energy efficiency. To make it easy to choose and understand, the Trading Standards Institute has developed a set of standardised tests and a grading system to highlight a product’s energy efficiency.

Products are rated A to G, with A the most energy efficient and colour coded green, while G is the least efficient and colour coded red. The most efficient fridges and freezers can now be identified by A+ and A++ markings. Washing machines can be awarded a triple A rating where energy, wash quality and spin are all independently rated for efficiency.

Always check the energy rating when buying a new product and don’t assume that the more expensive a product, the more efficient it is.

All domestic appliances are rated in Watts or kilowatts (1000 Watts) and the energy consumption will be clearly displayed in kilowatt hours (kWh) e.g. a 100W light bulb uses one kilowatt hour of electricity every 10 hours. The higher the rating, the more electricity an appliance uses, so the more it costs to run.

Depending on the product, the energy label might also include sections on the product’s washing or spin performance, which will again be graded A-G and its capacity and water consumption. To achieve an AAA rating, a washing machine will typically use an on-board micro-processor to ensure the correct amount of water per load is used, as well as the correct amount of detergent. In addition, look for machines that offer half load facilities and timer delays allowing operation using cheaper overnight electricity supplies.

Choosing energy efficient products will save money, but actual savings will depend on how the equipment is operated and how much you pay for your electricity. You can save money by only using equipment when you have a full load, using economy and low temperature settings and installing fridges and freezers well away from cookers.