Start by checking your fridge or freezer if it runs constantly and is old, oversized or particularly energy-hungry for your needs. To decide whether to replace it, compare its annual energy consumption and capacity with those of a suitably sized model. Then assess your dishwasher, hob and oven based on how often you use them and their own energy consumption units. If your dishwasher has broken down, also compare replacement with the cost of a repair quote.
A fridge, fridge-freezer or freezer runs all the time. If its capacity exceeds your needs, compare the usable capacity and annual kWh of a potential replacement, rather than looking only at its energy rating.
If you run several cycles a week, it’s worth checking energy consumption per 100 cycles alongside capacity, water use per cycle and the duration of the eco programme. If the dishwasher has broken down, a repair quote can help you decide between repairing it and replacing it.
If you cook often and are already considering a replacement because of a fault or a change in your needs, check the information specific to the hob or oven. It can’t be compared directly with a fridge’s annual energy consumption.
Start with the appliance you own, how often you use it and the capacity you need. The labels described by the European Commission use different units for fridges and dishwashers, so their figures alone can’t be used to rank appliances for replacement.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge or fridge-freezer | Compare the kWh/year and compartment capacities of appliances of the same type and similar size, as recommended by the European Commission. Check whether the capacity and features of the model you’re considering will genuinely be useful to you. | My appliance runs all the time: is its size still right for the amount I keep chilled and frozen? |
| Freezer | Check the kWh/year and frozen storage capacity in litres on the label described by the European Commission. Compare these with the capacity you actually use before choosing another appliance. | If my freezer isn’t very full, I want to check what capacity I need before replacing it with a similar-sized model. |
| Dishwasher | The European Commission lists the kWh per 100 cycles for the eco programme, water use per cycle and place setting capacity. Relate the energy consumption to the number of cycles you typically run, and check the programme duration too. | I run the dishwasher often: will a difference in energy use per cycle make a difference for my needs, with a capacity that suits my loads? |
| Electric hob | The European Commission states that hobs don’t have an energy label. Consider how often you cook, how many cooking zones you need and any installation requirements. For induction, check that your cookware is compatible. | I cook often on my hob and am already considering replacing it: will the new technology suit my installation and pans? |
| Electric oven | Compare the kWh per cycle for the listed cooking modes and the capacity in litres of similar ovens. Consider how often you cook: a figure per cycle isn’t the same as annual energy consumption. | I use the oven regularly: I want a suitably sized cavity, without assuming that a figure per cycle represents a whole year’s use. |
| Repair | If your dishwasher has broken down, ask for a diagnosis and a quote. In France, the DGCCRF states that this category is covered by the repairability index; check the index for the new model you’re considering before making a decision. | If my dishwasher can be repaired, I want to compare that option with replacement before deciding. |
An energy rating doesn’t tell you whether the capacity suits your household. Nor does it let you compare a fridge’s kWh/year directly with a dishwasher’s kWh per 100 cycles.
Compare fridges of a similar type and capacity. For dishwashers and ovens, stick to their per-cycle units and take into account how often you use them.
The general figures published by ADEME don’t, by themselves, reflect the age, settings or frequency of use of your appliance.
Before estimating how much you could save by replacing an appliance, compare the information for the model you’re considering with what you know about your current appliance and how you use it.
A breakdown alone isn’t enough to decide between a repair and a new purchase. In France, the repairability index provided by the DGCCRF offers a useful reference for the model in question, but it doesn’t replace a professional diagnosis.
Get a quote, then compare your repair options with the capacity and energy consumption of the dishwasher you’re considering.
According to the European Commission, hobs aren’t covered by energy labelling. Choosing one therefore doesn’t involve the same figures-based comparison as choosing a fridge or dishwasher.
If you’re considering induction, check your installation, the size of the cooking zones and whether your cookware is compatible before replacing your hob.
These three refrigeration appliances give you options to consider if you’re looking at replacing a fridge or fridge-freezer. Their capacity and energy rating alone aren’t enough to decide which one is right for you: check the annual energy consumption on the label for the exact model and compare it with your current appliance.
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If you’re replacing a fridge or freezer, check that its 344 L capacity suits your needs and compare its annual energy consumption with that of your current appliance. This black fridge-freezer has an energy rating of E.
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To assess this fridge-freezer, compare its 333 L capacity with the usable space you need, then check the kWh/year on its label against a similar refrigeration appliance. It has an energy rating of C.
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This 444 L fridge-freezer is designed for households needing plenty of capacity. Check how much space you need for each compartment and compare its kWh/year with similar-sized appliances of the same type. It’s frost-free and has an energy rating of E.
No. According to the European Commission, a fridge or freezer label shows kWh/year, while a dishwasher label shows kWh per 100 cycles of the eco programme. To estimate the dishwasher’s annual use, relate the latter figure to the number of cycles you run; the result is still based on the reference programme.
Compare the energy consumption per cycle for the listed cooking modes across ovens with a similar capacity, then take into account how often you cook. A figure per cycle can’t be compared directly with a fridge’s kWh/year.
No. The European Commission states that hobs aren’t covered by energy labelling. If you’re considering an induction hob, check that your cookware is compatible and that it suits your installation requirements.
Yes. If a repair seems possible, get a diagnosis or quote before you decide. Then compare that option with how you use your dishwasher and the energy consumption of the new model you’re considering. In France, the DGCCRF states that dishwashers are covered by the repairability index.
No. The European Commission’s information distinguishes, among other things, between kWh/year for fridges and freezers and kWh per 100 cycles for dishwashers. Check the label for the exact model, and keep its unit and capacity in mind when comparing appliances.