2022.12.20

2023 – the year of energy efficiency

The year that will soon pass to 2023 has given us an insight into what will drive the industry in the coming year: Energy efficiency. High electricity prices, warnings of power shortages and shutdowns, calls from authorities and the government for moderate energy consumption are paving the way for this.

Over the past 20 years, the energy consumption of household appliances has decreased by around 50 percent. On average, a refrigerator today consumes 25 percent of previous energy levels. Great progress has also been made in terms of water consumption. A dishwasher uses 10 percent of the water needed to wash dishes by hand. The industry also continues to develop its products to be even more energy-efficient with less environmental impact. As chairman, it makes me both proud and hopeful that we are heading towards a brighter tomorrow.

Christmas sales confirm the trend

We can also note that the Christmas sales have been a great success for brands with air fryers in their range. The product is both an energy-smart complement to the conventional oven and adds both quality and flexibility to cooking, all three factors appreciated by consumers right now.

Customers ask about energy efficiency

Of course, the development of the industry is also driven by consumer wishes. Several retail chains testify that questions about energy efficiency top consumers' lists of questions in stores and during searches. This is what Elgiganten's PR and communications manager Linnea Cederquist said in the magazine Market:

– There are also more searches than before for energy consumption and energy-efficient products both on our site and externally, which may be a combination of both high electricity prices and increased environmental awareness. Guiding customers on these issues is perhaps more important than ever, so that they can make the right purchasing decisions in uncertain times, concludes Linnea.

Linnea also confirms to Market that the hot air fryer is at the top of this year's Christmas shopping at Elgiganten - ahead of both game consoles and smartphones.

Energy labelling is important

Several industries have a functioning and objective labeling of their products with the European energy label. The label has made it easier for consumers to make energy-conscious model choices when purchasing. In the past year alone, ecodesign requirements saved European consumers 120 billion euros in energy costs, according to EU Vice-President Frans Timmermans.

More information than on the energy label

The energy label provides a very good comparison between different product choices within the same category, but does not compare with completely different alternatives. Some examples:

A induction hob uses about 20 percent less electricity than a ceramic thermos hob and about 30 percent less than an older cast iron hob. This comparison is not visible on an individual energy label, but it is visible in the electricity consumption.

Hand washing is a worse option than using the dishwasher. Comparisons from, among others, the Swedish Energy Agency show that it can use four times as much energy when we wash dishes by hand because it requires more hot water. The consumer also does not receive this comparative information on the energy label.

A microwave oven provides opportunities to heat smaller amounts of food or water more energy-efficiently than on the stove or in the oven. Frozen food is defrosted most cheaply in the refrigerator, which also helps to keep the temperature down. This is not evident from the energy label either.

For washing machines and dishwashers use the energy-conscious ECO program. The ECO mode requires less water and a lower temperature than most settings. However, it usually takes longer to achieve the same cleaning results. This is because heating the water uses the most energy. A longer wash means that the water does not have to be quite as hot, as the washing result depends on a combination of temperature, processing time, detergent and amount of water. So energy is saved, even if time is not saved. And no one needs to be disappointed with the washing and dishwashing results. The machines' energy ratings have been calculated based on these ECO programs.

Energy = Success Factor 2023

So, of course, the well-exposed energy efficiency is a success factor for the industry in the coming years, where the emphasis on products with high energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important for our consumers. Not only the Airfryer shows this, but also the entire range that industry companies offer to the market. So let's hear this in 2023 - Energy efficiency for all – the cry is loud! The energy system must not collapse.

Text: Kent Oderud