How many kilowatts does the consumer pay to use the microwave for an hour? What about if the oven is used?

The advantage of the microwave is that it spends less time doing the same function as the electric oven, e.g. to heat food, we only need 2 to 3 minutes in the microwave while in the oven we spend about 15 minutes. If we compare the consumption of the two appliances for the same period of time, the microwave can consume more, since the oven is not always on.

By comparing a 22 litres oven with a microwave, if both run for 1 hour, the microwave will spend 0,34 cents and the oven 0,18 cents.

The oven will heat up until it reaches the right temperature and then it will switch off. As soon as the temperature inside the oven decreases, it will switch on again. For 1 hour of working the resistances of the oven could be working only between 30 to 45 minutes.

Beware that these estimates may vary according to the capacity of the oven, whether it is ventilated, if it has a thermal blanket, with the kind of supply it has inside and the times we open the door of the appliance.

1.2 Cooking a pre-cooked frozen lasagna
The benefit of the microwave is in the fact that its technology allows cooking food more quickly. For example, a frozen lasagna takes about 7 minutes to cook in the microwave, whereas in the oven it will take 30 minutes. It means that if we cook it in the microwave, its cost will be 3 to 4 cents and if we cook it in the oven it could be 8 to 12 cents (depending on the above analysed factors)

1.3 Heating up food in the microwave
Due to its technology, the microwave is faster heating up food. For example, if you have frozen food or if you only need to heat food, the microwave will be more beneficial. On average, a microwave will take 2 minutes to heat food. An oven will take about 15 minutes (it will have to be pre-heated and only then it will start heating up food). In this case, the cost of heating up in the microwave will be 1 cent, whereas in the oven it will be around 4 to 6 cents.

If your microwave has a display, unplug it, when it is not being used. The consumption of the display can be higher than 7 euros yearly. The same is true for the oven, the saving values being similar; however, it may be more difficult to switch off this appliance from the plug, because of its characteristics, to the detriment of the microwave.

The exhaust fan lamps are often hidden and in older exhaust fans they are still incandescent. This kind of lamp may take up to 45 cents yearly, but if we switch it off the cost will be almost 10 times less (5 cents yearly). Estimate for someone who uses the exhaust fan for 1 hour 3 times weekly.

The fridge can depict a cost of around 170 euros annually. By choosing a more efficient model, this value can decrease to 50 to 70 euros yearly, which might result in a 100 euros/yearly saving.

How much does it cost the consumer to wash the dishes by hand versus how much does it cost to use the dishwasher? How much can the consumer save if he/she stops washing the dishes by hand?

The purchase of an efficient dishwasher can result in savings of about 16 thousand litres yearly, which represent savings of 19 euros in the annual water bill.
A more efficient model can generate savings of up to 41% of water consumption, when compared to less efficient appliances.
In choosing, you should take into consideration, the water consumption, visible in the energy label:

- Always look for the most energetically efficient appliances (energy classes of A up to A+++).
- To reduce the water consumption, apart from the energy class, look for dishwashers whose label will indicate a lower average annual water bill (lower than 2.500 L/year for dishwashers).

In another hand, the dishwasher is one of the most energy consuming appliances in the kitchen and 90% of that consumption corresponds to the water heating cycles for washing the dishes and of air for drying.

By replacing your older dishwasher by one more efficient, class A, you can decrease your energy bill in 35 euros.