Can home appliances ease the shock of the energy crisis?

In the face of the energy crisis, making every watt count is of utmost importance to us all. How? What can be concretely done to tackle the rising energy crisis? APPLiA Director-General Mr Paolo Falcioni, covers this and much more in the nineteenth episode of APPLiA’s digital interviews.

• As the energy crisis spikes across Europe, shall we consider the possibility of doing without some appliances, this winter? 

“No. Actually, it is the other way around,” began Falcioni. If we are to meet the Commission’s long-term energy efficiency objectives, mainly the targeted increase from 9% to 13% of the binding Energy Efficiency Target under the ‘Fit for 55' package of European Green Deal legislation, “an indivisible effort is required from all actors involved in this spiralling crisis, from governments to industries and consumers,” pointed Falcioni. 

Energy savings are the fastest and most cost-effective means of tackling the energy crisis and killing your bill. 

• How could governments drive change in consumer behaviour? 

In today’s convoluted political agenda, “mobilising demand and creating incentives for consumers to change their daily habits, in the form of a tariff reduction offer, for instance, would not only give concrete financial support to people but also improve generation, transmission and distribution of electricity”, Falcioni emphasised. Creating the conditions for consumers to actively participate in the energy market is essential to unleash the full potential of demand-side flexibility, in a cost-effective way. This is also the aim of the payback scheme put in place by major energy suppliers in the UK, kicking off these days.

• With consumers keeping a watchful eye on their energy usage, can changes to our daily routines bring about true savings? 

Europe faces a record-breaking surge in energy prices that could present unforeseen challenges for householders. As pressure rises on household incomes, small changes to our daily habits play a pivotal part in lowering the demand for energy.  “Passive cooking of pasta alone saves up to 47% of energy and related CO2 emissions. Cooking with a lid on saves up to 25% of energy,” explained Falcioni. These are not disregardable numbers at the end of the day. For this reason, APPLiA just kicked off an industry-wide energy-saving campaign, guiding consumers through some of the most effective tips for home appliances: https://www.applia-europe.eu/initiatives/kill-your-bill

• Can the industry’s efforts towards greater energy efficiency play a role in this?  

From an industry perspective, it’s no secret that the newest generation of appliances could be key to reaching true advances in terms of energy-efficiency. Here, “replacing old and inefficient products is clearly one solution to save money in the long-term,” highlighted Falcioni. 

But, importantly, how do we get there? With 1.6 billion people worldwide still lacking access to electricity, government action to support investment in energy efficiency is of utmost importance, especially when it comes to helping families escape poverty. “This takes government action to support investment in energy efficiency to unlock the full potential of the latest available technologies,” concluded Falcioni.