Key findings:

  • Most Britons are only moderately or slightly confident in knowing which appliances use the most electricity.
  • Cost is the biggest motivator: 65% want clear cost-per-use information to help manage energy use.
  • Six in ten already have a smart meter, but one in four say they aren’t planning to get one.

As energy costs remain a household concern, a new YouGov survey explores how aware Britons are of the electricity their appliances use — and what they do to save it.

The findings show that while many take everyday steps to cut consumption, few feel confident identifying which appliances use the most energy, and most say they would change their habits if clearer cost information were available.

Most Britons think a tumble dryer uses the most electricity

When asked which household appliances they believe use the most electricity, nearly two-thirds of Britons (63%) chose the tumble dryer, placing it well ahead of heating or cooling systems (49%) and washing machines (31%).

Younger adults (18–34) are somewhat less likely than older groups to point to tumble dryers (51% vs. 70% among those aged 55+), but perceptions are broadly similar across age ranges. Only small shares mention items such as fridge/freezers (15%) or televisions (7%), suggesting that most people associate high energy use with visibly power-intensive appliances rather than those that run continuously.

Younger adults, meanwhile, are more likely to mention washing machines (43%) than older groups (27% of 55+).

While most Britons have views on which appliances use the most power, few feel strongly confident in those judgments. The majority fall into the middle ground — around two-thirds (68%) say they are either moderately (34%) or slightly confident (34%) about identifying which household items consume the most electricity.

Only a small minority, fewer than one in five (18%), feel very or extremely confident, while 13% admit they are not at all confident.

Among higher-income Britons, 68% express moderate or slight confidence, compared with 69% of middle-income and 64% of lower-income adults reflecting a general lack of clarity around how different appliances use power.

Everyday appliances dominate Britons’ electricity use

Although Britons show limited confidence in identifying which household items use the most electricity, their reported usage patterns suggest that some of the most frequently used appliances are not the ones they perceive as major energy drains.

Nearly all Britons say they use their fridge or freezer several times a day (91%), while lighting (87%), electric kettles (71%), and televisions (65%) also see near-daily use. By contrast, appliances that people most often believe consume the most electricity (such as tumble dryers and dishwashers) are used far less frequently. Roughly half of Britons say they never use a tumble dryer (48%) or dishwasher (49%).

Most Britons take simple steps to save electricity, but only four in ten monitor their usage

Even though many Britons are uncertain about which appliances use the most electricity, most say they take everyday actions to reduce their energy consumption. Nearly nine in ten (87%) report turning off lights when leaving a room, making it by far the most common energy-saving habit. Around seven in ten (72%) say they air-dry clothes instead of using a tumble dryer, and two-thirds (64%) wash clothes at lower temperatures.

However, more deliberate or tech-assisted behaviours reveal subtle income differences. Higher-income households are slightly more likely to use eco or energy-saving modes on appliances (40% vs. 31% among lower-income) and to monitor usage through a smart meter (48% vs. 39%).

Conversely, lower-income households are more likely to rely on manual behaviours, such as unplugging or switching off devices when not in use (67% vs. 52% among higher-income).

Avoiding standby mode on TVs or consoles is among the less common energy-saving actions, with around a third of Britons (34%) saying they do so regularly. Four in ten (41%) lower-income Britons report avoiding standby mode, compared with 34% of middle-income and 29% of higher-income households. This suggests that lower-income groups, who may be more conscious of energy costs, are more proactive about minimising even small, continuous sources of electricity use.

Rising energy prices have made most Britons more conscious of their electricity use

Energy costs remain a key driver of household awareness. More than seven in ten Britons (76%) agree that rising energy prices have made them more conscious about how much electricity they use, with one in three (33%) saying they strongly agree.

The impact of rising prices is felt across income groups but is most pronounced among those on lower incomes, where 77% agree overall and nearly four in ten (38%) say they strongly agree. Among higher-income households, agreement remains high (75%), though fewer feel strongly about it (29% strongly agree).

Most Britons say they would change their energy use with clearer information

Access to clearer, real-time information could be a strong motivator for behaviour change. Nearly four in five Britons (77%) say they would be likely to change how they use their appliances if they had clearer or real time data on energy consumption or cost.

This includes 15% who say they would be extremely likely and 24% who are very likely to adjust their habits, while a further 37% are somewhat likely to do so. Only around one in five (23%) say they would be unlikely to make changes. This suggests that clearer and real time information could prompt energy-saving behaviours particularly if consumers could easily see how much each appliance costs to run.

When asked what kind of information would most help them manage their electricity use, Britons overwhelmingly prioritise cost transparency. Nearly two-thirds (65%) say knowing the cost per hour or per use of each appliance would help them the most, far ahead of any other type of information.

Across income groups, this preference is consistent: 65% of lower- and middle-income Britons, and 70% of higher-income households, all place running cost information at the top of their list. The next most useful type of information, cited by one in four (26%), is simple, easy-to-understand appliance efficiency ratings, followed by tips or reminders for efficient use (20%).

By contrast, only small shares prioritise environmental impact data (12%) or comparisons to similar households (10%), suggesting that Britons’ interest in energy information is primarily financial and practical rather than environmental.

Britons’ desire for clearer, real-time energy information aligns closely with the tools already in many homes, yet awareness doesn’t always translate into full engagement.

Smart meters are now widespread: six in ten Britons (61%) say they already have one, while a small proportion (8%) say they don’t yet have one but would like to. However, nearly one in four (24%) report that they don’t have a smart meter and aren’t planning to get one, suggesting that a notable share of the public remains unconvinced about the benefits.

Overall, the data paints a picture of a nation that is energy-aware but information-poor. Britons are clearly motivated to save electricity, yet their confidence in understanding household energy consumption remains modest.

The strong appetite for transparent, easy-to-understand cost-per-use information points to a clear opportunity: if households were given clearer, real-time feedback on how much energy their appliances consume, and what that means in pounds and pence, many would likely adjust their behaviour further.

As energy costs continue to influence household decisions, clarity and accessibility of information could be the key to turning awareness into sustained, measurable change.

Methodology:

YouGov polled 1,000 UK adults online on 15 October, 2025. The survey was carried out through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve. Data is weighted by age, gender, education level, region, and social grade.

Photo by Siân Wynn-Jones on Unsplash

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