Start by looking at the appliance that has the biggest impact on energy use in your home, then compare replacements with the same function and a similar capacity. A fridge or freezer is often worth looking at early because it runs continuously, but a dishwasher, hob or oven that you use frequently may take priority depending on your habits. The energy rating alone isn’t enough to predict whether replacing an appliance will be worthwhile.
A fridge or freezer runs continuously. If it’s larger than you need, compare its annual energy use with that of an appliance with the same function and a suitable capacity. ADEME highlights the importance of size when making this choice.
If you run it often, compare kWh per 100 cycles and litres per cycle across models with similar capacities. The eco programme’s duration and noise level may also matter in everyday use, as ADEME points out.
When choosing a hob, the right option depends in part on the technology, your cookware and the installation. For ovens, the European Commission lists separate energy use per cycle for each cooking mode. Compare the mode you actually use, and choose an oven with a similar capacity.
Start with how often you use each appliance, then compare the figures relevant to its category. The bill figures below come from a survey conducted by Becoming for France’s National Energy Ombudsman among 2 000 households in mainland France in September 2025. They reflect concerns about energy costs, not plans to buy household appliances.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs and the households surveyed |
|---|---|---|
| Annual use | Note the function and frequency of use of each appliance. To estimate your usage, ADEME’s Wattris tool lets you enter your appliances, as well as their operating hours and durations. | I want to focus on the appliances that matter in my home. In the National Energy Ombudsman’s survey, 85 % of households surveyed said energy bills took up a significant share of their budget; among those who change their habits to reduce energy use, 87 % do so to cut their bills. |
| Cooling | Compare kWh/year for fridges or freezers with the same function and a similar capacity. Check the compartment volumes and noise levels shown on the label, as recommended by the European Commission. | My appliance runs continuously: does its capacity still match what I need to store ? |
| Dishwashing | For similar capacities, compare kWh/100 cycles, litres per cycle, eco programme duration and the noise level shown on the dishwasher’s label, as recommended by ADEME and the European Commission. | If I often run cycles with only a small load, I want to choose a capacity that suits the loads I usually wash. |
| Hob cooking | Check the technology, cut-out dimensions, connection requirements and cookware compatibility. The European Commission does not provide an energy label for hobs. | I often cook on the hob. Before switching technology, I want to know whether it will suit my kitchen and pans. |
| Oven cooking | Compare usable capacity and kWh per cycle for the same cooking mode. The European Commission’s label gives separate figures for conventional and fan-assisted cooking. | Do I use the oven often enough for replacing it to take priority over an appliance I use more ? |
| Repair | Find the exact reference number of your current appliance, then check the availability of parts, documentation and repair options. ADEME presents the repairability index as a guide for the relevant categories. | Before buying a new appliance, I want to know whether a repair would meet my needs. |
Age alone doesn’t tell you which appliance has the biggest impact on your energy use. ADEME’s estimates vary depending on the type of appliance and the assumptions about how it is used.
Before deciding what to look at first, make a note of your appliances, their capacities and how often you use them.
An energy rating doesn’t tell you everything about an appliance’s actual energy use, volume or capacity. Two very different-sized appliances may not meet the same needs.
Compare models with the same function and a similar capacity, then check the relevant figure: kWh/year for fridges and freezers, kWh/100 cycles for dishwashers or kWh/cycle for ovens.
The European Commission does not provide energy labels for hobs. Cookware compatibility and installation requirements are therefore important considerations.
Check the cut-out, connection requirements and compatibility with your pans before buying.
Switching technology may mean buying different cookware or adapting your installation. Check what’s needed for your kitchen.
A fault alone doesn’t tell you whether replacing the appliance would better meet your needs. Parts and documentation availability depends on the appliance reference.
Ask for a diagnosis and check which parts are available for the exact model before deciding whether to repair or replace it.
Worth considering if you’re comparing dishwashers by installation type, capacity and noise level.
Worth considering if capacity, installation or a delay-start function are key factors in your choice of dishwasher.
Worth considering if access to documentation and parts is part of your decision about an appliance for cooking, cooling or washing.
These Joybuy models cover three of the options explored here: replacing a fridge-freezer, a dishwasher or an electric hob. Compare each option with an appliance of the same type and your household’s actual needs.
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Worth considering if the 262 L capacity suits your storage needs. The model name indicates a 70/30 split, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. Compare its annual energy use on the label with that of appliances with a similar capacity.
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The 360 L capacity is worth considering if it meets your storage needs. The model is described as Total No Frost, rated E, with Wi-Fi and My Zone. These features alone don’t establish how much electricity it will save. Check the compartment capacities, dimensions and kWh/year on the label.
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Its capacity of 14 place settings is worth comparing with the size of your usual loads. The model name mentions 7 cycles. To assess its energy use and everyday practicality, check the kWh/100 cycles, litres per cycle and eco programme duration on the label for the exact model.
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The 467 L capacity is worth considering if you need the extra storage. The model is described as Total No Frost, rated E and fitted with Smart Inverter. None of these features replaces a comparison of kWh/year with appliances of the same type and a similar capacity. Check its dimensions too.
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If you’re thinking about switching to induction, first check the cookware, cut-out and connection requirements. The model name indicates 3 zones and 7200 W. This power rating alone doesn’t tell you how much energy your cooking will use.
No. Also compare energy use and capacity across appliances with the same function: kWh/year and volumes for fridges and freezers, or kWh/100 cycles and place settings for a dishwasher. For ovens, the European Commission gives separate kWh per cycle figures for each cooking mode. Choose the mode and capacity that match how you use it.
The European Commission does not provide energy labels for hobs. Consider the technology, dimensions, connection requirements and whether your cookware is compatible. Don’t assume a hob’s energy use based on its stated power alone.
Check its duration on the label for the exact model. ADEME and the European Commission explain that the label also shows energy use per 100 cycles, water use per cycle and capacity. Consider all these figures together, and don’t assume the programme will fit your schedule.
For an appliance covered by energy labelling rules, check its label and search for its reference in EPREL, the European Commission’s public database. Separately check the dimensions, installation requirements and repair options for the model you’re considering.
No. Ask a professional to identify the fault and provide a quote for the exact model, then check whether parts and documentation are available before deciding. ADEME recommends considering repairability when choosing an appliance.