Discover the secret to slashing your bills this Black Friday with deals that offer long-term savings.
An energy expert has shared his top tip on how to snag Black Friday deals that could save you hundreds of pounds over the next decade. Dimitrios Stefanoglou, a sustainable innovation analyst from energy supplier Utilita, warns that ignoring energy efficiency ratings in the hunt for the biggest discount can actually end up costing you more in the long run.
The advice comes as research revealed that 31% of people admit they don’t understand the energy efficiency rating scale, and only 22% currently consider energy ratings when making an electrical purchase. Using four common examples of energy-guzzling items on sale Black Friday Dimitirios aims to show how keeping an eye on energy ratings can be beneficial.
He said: “Many are under a misguided belief that energy efficiency is built into modern day products or that brands with good reputations would at least be on top of this.
“But in fact, many are still hiding behind these facts to get away with cutting corners on this crucial aspect of their products.”
The research found that four in ten people assume all products would be energy efficient by now. Meanwhile, 26% claim the energy rating doesn’t make a significant enough difference in price for them to consider, choosing to place their trust in the brand’s reputation rather than a rating.
However, according to Dimitrios, the difference in running costs can be significantly different. For instance, an ‘E-rated’ and ‘G-rated’ TV could cost an extra £124 over its lifetime.
Moreover, it typically costs £429 to purchase an A-rated dishwasher versus £279 for an E-rated one, and over 10 years consumers could save almost double the difference.
An A-rated heat pump tumble dryer also tends to have a price tag of £429 versus £329 for its E-rated counterpart – but this difference would be recouped in just two years of use, with owners seeing savings of £451 over a 10-year period.
Even more surprisingly, a typical A-rated washing machine actually costs £30 less than a more expensive-to-run one (£319 versus £349).
When asked what might influence them to choose an electrical product with a better rating, cost was a major factor. Half said they would choose an electrical product if they knew for a fact it would reduce their energy bills and 45% said the same if they saw a noticeable difference in running costs.
The poll reveals that two in 10 adults have purchased a large electrical item they later regretted due to the high running costs. Consequently, half (50%) stated they would prefer to buy an item which is more expensive initially but costs less to run in the long term.
Dimitrios Stefanoglou commented: “It’s clear that the savings energy efficiency can bring are a big priority for many – but retailers are still not answering this demand as well as they could be.
“Clearer ratings on every electrical product could make a big difference in our everyday lives – cutting costs over time to add up to big savings over 10 years.”
#Expert #reveals #top #costsaving #secret #buying #appliances #ahead #Black #Friday
