Start by looking at appliances that run continuously, such as fridges and freezers, and check whether their capacity still meets your needs. For a dishwasher, oven or hob, your choice depends more on how often you use it and the information available for that appliance category. According to ADEME, a newer appliance isn’t automatically the right buy: its size and features matter, as does whether you can maintain or repair your existing appliance.
Your fridge-freezer or freezer runs continuously. Before replacing it or adding another appliance, compare the capacity you need with the annual energy consumption shown for similar models. ADEME points out that size and features affect actual energy use.
You run cycles often and want to choose a capacity that suits your usual loads. The label described by the European Commission lets you compare factors such as energy use per 100 Eco cycles, water per cycle, programme duration and noise.
You’re choosing a hob or oven and need to consider your cookware, available space and cooking habits. The guidance differs: the European Commission lists energy consumption per cycle for ovens, but hobs don’t have an energy label.
To manage energy use in the kitchen, start with the capacity you need and how you actually use the appliance, then compare the right indicators for each type. An appliance that stores food all the time shouldn’t be assessed in the same way as one used for washing or cooking cycles.
| Consideration | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration appliances used continuously | Compare annual energy consumption and energy class across appliances of the same type, choosing a suitable capacity. ADEME also recommends considering extra features. | If my fridge-freezer stays plugged in all year, I want to avoid replacing it with a model whose capacity or features I won’t use; around 29% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Dishwasher cycles | Compare kWh per 100 Eco cycles, litres per cycle and capacity; check the Eco programme duration too. These are among the indicators listed by the European Commission. | When I run the dishwasher regularly, I need a capacity I can fill and a programme that takes a suitable amount of time. This would be the priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Freezer capacity | Work out how much storage you really need before adding or upgrading an appliance that will run continuously; then compare its annual energy consumption. | If I don’t store many frozen products, I’d rather check that a separate appliance would genuinely be useful; around 18% of consumers would prioritise this question. |
| Choosing a hob | Check the technology, the cooking zones you’ll use and whether your pans are compatible with induction. According to the European Commission, hobs don’t carry an energy label. | I often cook on the hob and want to avoid choosing technology that doesn’t suit my pans or habits; around 18% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Oven use | Compare the capacity in litres and the kWh per cycle for the cooking modes shown on the label, as set out by the European Commission. | If I only use the oven occasionally, I’m looking for a capacity that suits the dishes I make; around 12% of consumers would prioritise this choice. |
Two appliances with very different capacities or uses may not meet the same needs. ADEME highlights that size and usage affect actual energy consumption.
Work out the capacity and features you need, then compare the energy use of appliances of the same type and a suitable capacity.
For dishwashers, the kWh per 100 cycles and litres per cycle shown on the label refer to the reference programme, not every programme without distinction.
Check the Eco programme duration too, and consider whether it fits your washing habits.
The European Commission states that hobs aren’t required to carry an energy label. So an energy class shown for an oven isn’t a like-for-like guide to a hob.
Instead, check the technology, the number and size of the cooking zones, and whether your cookware is compatible.
With induction, you’ll need to replace any incompatible cookware if you want to keep using it for the same types of cooking.
A specific fault doesn’t necessarily mean the whole appliance needs replacing. For some dishwashers, the displayed repairability index and the option to search for parts by model reference can help you explore your options.
Make a note of the exact model reference, find out which parts are available and ask for a diagnosis before deciding.
These brands offer useful points of comparison when looking at dishwashers. Choose based on the specifications of the model you’re considering, rather than the brand alone.
Bosch Électroménager France lists built-in and freestanding dishwashers, with product information that includes energy class, water used on the Eco cycle, noise and dimensions, depending on the model.
Miele France lists integrated and freestanding dishwashers; some product pages show energy class, noise and Eco programme consumption.
Electrolux France lists built-in and freestanding dishwashers, including 45 cm and 60 cm models.
Whirlpool France lists 45 cm and 60 cm dishwashers and offers a spare-parts search by model reference.
These models let you consider two separate decisions: choosing the right size for a fridge-freezer that runs continuously, or picking a dishwasher to suit your available space and usual loads. To compare energy use, check the label for the exact model, using the right measures for each category.
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Worth considering if you need plenty of refrigeration space all year round, after checking that this capacity suits your household.
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Consider this if a 360 L fridge-freezer suits your everyday storage needs; check how much capacity you need before replacing an appliance that still works.
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Worth considering if you need substantial storage, provided you check that the capacity and dimensions suit your kitchen.
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This table-top model is worth considering if your usual loads fit within 6 place settings and you have the space and connections it needs.
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Consider this if you regularly have enough washing to fill a 14-place-setting dishwasher and its integrated installation suits your kitchen.
Not necessarily. ADEME says a newer appliance may use less energy, but its size and how you use it matter too. Before replacing an appliance that still works, check the capacity you need, whether it can be maintained and whether it can be repaired.
Compare their kWh per 100 Eco cycles and litres of water per cycle on the same basis. The European Commission also lists capacity, Eco programme duration and noise on the label. Consider these figures in relation to your usual loads.
Because the dishwasher’s reference figures are based on this programme, whose duration is shown on the label. Check that you can fit it into your washing routine rather than assuming its figures apply to other programmes.
No. The European Commission says hobs aren’t required to carry an energy label. When choosing a hob, check the technology, cooking zones and whether your cookware is compatible. Ovens, on the other hand, show energy use per cycle.
The QR code on the label can take you to the model’s entry in EPREL, the database described by the European Commission. Make sure the model reference and variant shown match the appliance you’re considering exactly.