OK, so it's time to try out the EcoManager on the two appliances that we all know are big energy guzzlers: the washing machine and the tumble dryer.
By putting off doing any laundry for two weeks I've actually shot myself in the foot as it's now far too cold to hang anything out on the line. I pull the washer and dryer out, plug them into a multisocket adaptor, attach the EcoManager and plug it into the wall.
As they're both connected to the EcoManager, this means I can quickly and simply switch both appliances off remotely from the one central unit if I need to. I load the washer, scouting around for some laundry to make sure the machine is full, and turn it on to my regular 40C. I go over to the EcoManager and wait.
When the machine is on full tilt the reading is 2.20 kW, that's 1.27kg CO2 (per kWh) at a rate of 5kWh. The cost ratings vary depending on where it is in the cycle, but stabilise at around 56p a day, climbing to 70p a day during the spin.
Next up, it's time for the baddie of all white goods: the tumble dryer. I put the washed load in and turn it to a low-heat setting. At first the energy reading is 1.43kW, but when I turn the setting to high heat it jumps to 2.58kW, 2.1kg CO2 (per kWh). At one point the EcoManager tells me the dryer is using £5.58 per day, or £167.9 a month.
Eeek.
So I immediately open the door, take out the towels, stick them on the radiator and turn the setting back to low heat, and turn the dial round from one hour to 40 minutes. The only flaw is that I now have towels on all the radiators and steamy windows.
About the author
Hannah is a freelance journalist who lives in east London with her partner. Despite often being found watching TV while working on her laptop with the radio playing in the kitchen, Hannah considers herself environmentally aware: she takes a keen interest in growing her own vegetables and cycles to work. Here she re-evaluates her energy consumption at home thanks to EDF Energy's EcoManager.
