Start by checking how much electricity your current appliance uses and how often you use it. ADEME’s figures are a good reason to look closely at fridges and freezers, which run continuously, but theoretical differences don’t predict the savings you could make in your home. For dishwashers and ovens, compare energy-label figures for models with a similar capacity and use. Before replacing anything, also check whether maintenance or repair could solve the problem.
A fridge-freezer, fridge or freezer runs continuously. If you’re considering replacing yours, compare its energy use with that of a similar type of appliance with a capacity that genuinely suits your needs. ADEME highlights the impact that an appliance’s size and features can have on its energy use.
It’s worth comparing the Eco programme’s energy use with the number of place settings you typically wash. The energy label also gives details of water use per cycle, programme duration and noise levels. According to ADEME, these factors matter if you run the machine regularly or near a living area.
Before considering an induction hob, check your kitchen’s electrical installation and your cookware. For an oven, compare the capacity and energy use per cycle for the cooking mode you use. The European Commission notes that ovens carry an energy label, unlike hobs.
Start by finding out how much energy your current appliance uses, then compare it with replacements of the same type and a suitable capacity. An energy-label figure alone doesn’t reflect how you use an appliance.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Target your bills | Check the energy use of the appliance in question and how often you use it. Compare it with the figures for a similar replacement before making a decision. | My bills are putting pressure on my budget, so I want to focus on one purchase rather than replace all my appliances. In a September 2025 energy survey by France’s National Energy Ombudsman, which covered 2,000 households in metropolitan France, 85% said their energy bills made up a significant part of their budget. This figure does not measure plans to replace appliances. |
| Fridges and freezers | Compare the kWh/year figures for fridges or freezers of the same type and a similar capacity. Check the usable capacity before looking at extra features. Based on its usage assumptions, ADEME gives figures of 315 kWh/year for an average fridge-freezer and 100 kWh/year for a new class A fridge-freezer. This isn’t a guaranteed saving from replacing your appliance. | My appliance runs continuously. I need enough capacity, but don’t want to buy a model that’s bigger than necessary. |
| Dishwasher | Check the kWh per 100 Eco cycles, litres per cycle and place-setting capacity. According to ADEME, the energy label also shows the Eco programme duration and noise level. | I use my dishwasher often, but its capacity and cycle duration need to suit our routine. |
| Hob and oven | For an induction hob, check your kitchen’s electrical installation and cookware. The European Commission notes that hobs don’t have an energy label. For an oven, compare its capacity and kWh per cycle for conventional and fan-assisted cooking. | I cook regularly and want to compare options that suit my kitchen and the cooking modes I use. |
| Repair | Get a fault diagnosed and check the maintenance instructions in the manual. If you’re replacing a dishwasher in France, also check its repairability index, which is scored out of 10, as set out by the ministries responsible for the ecological transition. | If my appliance isn’t working properly, I’d rather find out whether maintenance or a repair will do the job before buying another one. |
ADEME points out that capacity and extra features affect energy use, even in a newer model.
Work out how much capacity you need, then compare the kWh/year figures for models of the same type and similar capacity.
The energy class won’t tell you whether the capacity, Eco programme duration or noise level will suit your household. According to ADEME, the energy label also shows these details, along with the electricity and water used by the Eco programme.
Compare these figures with the size of your usual load and when you use the machine.
The European Commission says that hobs aren’t subject to energy-labelling requirements. So you can’t base your choice on an energy class of this kind.
Check the dimensions, electrical installation and cookware compatibility before choosing a hob.
A fault doesn’t always mean you need a replacement. ADEME recommends having the problem diagnosed; the repairability index can then help you compare eligible new appliances.
Check the manual for maintenance advice, arrange a diagnosis if needed and see whether a repair is possible before buying a replacement.
These options are for replacing a fridge or freezer, a dishwasher or a hob. Start by choosing the category that suits your needs, then check the dimensions and specifications of the model you’re considering.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing a fridge-freezer and 262 L suits your needs. The title lists a 70/30 split, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. Compare its energy-label figures with those of an appliance of similar capacity. The product details say it isn’t suitable for an unheated garage where the temperature falls below 16 °C.
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Consider comparing this fridge-freezer if you genuinely need 360 L of capacity. The title lists Total No Frost, class E and Wi-Fi. Check the model’s energy label and make sure you have enough space. Choosing a larger capacity than you need won’t, by itself, help to reduce your bill.
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Worth considering if a fully integrated dishwasher with 14 place settings suits your usual load; the title lists class C. Check the Eco programme figures on the energy label. Before planning the installation, confirm the space available: the product title gives a width of 60 cm, but the dimensions table lists 68 cm.
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This separate freezer offers 161 L of storage, and the title lists class C. Check that the capacity suits your needs, then look at the kWh/year figure on the energy label to compare its energy use with that of another freezer of similar capacity.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing a hob and four zones suit the way you cook. The title lists nine power settings. Check the cut-out dimensions, electrical connection and cookware compatibility; the product details say professional installation is required. The European Commission says hobs don’t carry energy labels, so the technology alone can’t tell you how much energy you could save with this model.
Start with the appliance that uses a lot of energy for the way you use it. Fridges and freezers run continuously, and ADEME’s figures show differences between some average appliances and new models. However, these comparisons are based on usage assumptions. Check your own appliance’s energy use and capacity before deciding.
According to ADEME, compare the kWh per 100 Eco cycles, water use per cycle, place-setting capacity, Eco programme duration and noise level shown on the energy label. Choose a capacity that suits your usual load. Eco programme figures won’t necessarily reflect a quick or intensive cycle.
No. The European Commission says there’s no energy-labelling requirement for hobs. If you’re considering induction, check that your kitchen’s electrical installation and cookware are compatible, rather than assigning an energy class to the hob.
Not necessarily. ADEME recommends having the problem diagnosed before replacing the appliance. Check the maintenance instructions in the manual and have a potential repair assessed. If you then choose a new appliance in France, its repairability index is another useful comparison point.
Check the model’s energy label and EPREL, the European Commission’s database of products sold in the EU. Compare appliances in the same category and with a suitable capacity, using the relevant measure: kWh/year for fridges and freezers, kWh per 100 Eco cycles for dishwashers, or kWh per cycle for ovens.