ANALYSIS: ECO APPLIANCES Home Appliances
Sustainability is always in style
The buy one, buy well mentality is the ethos that needs to be adopted when buying any new product, particularly appliances. So what eco-friendly options are currently available, and what are the features and benefits? Will McGill investigates.
26 W
ith appliances receiving a big mention at the recent COP28 conference,
which took
place in the UAE last year, with global leaders seeing
our industry as an area where lots of energy savings can be made.
It is important for customers to know about the appliances that are out there and receive the education on how to use their appliances in a more environmentally-friendly way – so they are ready to contribute towards a net-zero planet. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, smart appliances can save up to 15 per cent of energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nine per cent. Many manufacturers have already developed high-tech solutions that make their appliances more energy efficient and eco-friendly. Managing Director of the Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group, Bill Miller, explains that over half of British shoppers feel that environmental sustainability is important when making a purchasing decision – highlighting that this is even more important than brand preferences. He says: “Many consumers have realised how energy-hungry appliances can be and they now recognise that we all need to make more sustainable choices to benefit the planet. The cost-of-living crisis has a big part to play in this, as consumers start to look at how much individual appliances cost to run, in order to make savings where possible.” Mr Miller also explained that consumers are often willing to pay more for an appliance with a better energy rating when the benefits are explained to them in monetary terms. Tim Hutchinson, Divisional Manager at Liebherr UK, explains: “Our primary ambition is to improve sustainability across all facets
of the company, and ultimately participate in a circular economy. We feel a responsibility in our industry to drive technology and innovation to help meet these growing demands.” Liebherr’s offering includes a selection of
over 30 products above ‘C’ energy rating, and recently it launched its BluRoX technology, and offers one of the first freezers which can be recycled at the end of its lifetime.
providing consumers with the assurance that they are investing in the most resource-friendly appliances on the market.”
The brand has incorporated Active Water technology in its washing machines, which is designed to adapt the volume of water used based on the size of the washing load. Mr Lucas adds: “When consumers use their washing machines or dryers, they are faced
Liebherr’s Freestanding Fridge Freezer.
Mr Hutchinson continues: “The interplay of the ideal humidity and temperature is the key to lengthening storage life and protecting nutritional content. As different types of food have different storage requirements, BioFresh drawers can be adjusted to provide the optimum storage climate for different foods. “Now more than ever, consumers are beginning to prioritise investing in quality appliances, particularly
those that can
help reduce energy bills given the current economic environment.”
At BSH, Alex Lucas, Head of Business Unit – Laundry, says: “Our goal is to ensure that every single model in our washing machine range is rated ‘A’ for energy efficiency,
BSH’s washing machines include Active Water technology.
with various decisions and considerations. They must carefully select the appropriate temperature for their laundry, considering the fabric type and level of dirtiness. Additionally, they must
choose the most suitable
programme duration based on the load size and the level of cleanliness desired, plus the optimal volume of detergent to use.” He explains that retailers should highlight key
product features that contribute to resource efficiency, such as Bosch’s Eco 40-60 program, Active Water technology, i-DOS automatic dosing system, and the convenient visibility of consumption forecasts through the Home Connect App.
“Our i-DOS automatic dosing system, for example, accurately measures the perfect
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