As Britons across the UK prepare for the imminent rise in household costs and energy bills, new research has revealed over half (53%) of Brits are going to new extremes to help reduce their cost of living.

The study uncovered that 77% of Brits are worried about the increase in energy bills and 66% are extremely concerned about finding funds to cover the increase in household spend.

78% of Brits admitted they would consider wearing up to three layers of clothing inside, in a bid to reduce their use of central heating. 44% also stated they would wash their clothes at a lower temperature or use their washing machine less frequently (41%). Furthermore, 39% admitted to cutting their shower time in half to help lower costs and 29% said they would resort to manually washing plates to avoid using the dishwasher.

The research was commissioned by LG Electronics, whose range of eco-friendly home appliances can help consumers keep costs and energy usage down. The range includes products with ‘A’ energy-efficiency ratings and features such as DoorCooling™ technology, which helps maintain optimal temperature, deep-learning technology that weighs and detects the best wash pattern, and auto dispense technology that automatically works out how much detergent is needed for each wash, helping to significantly reduce detergent and softener usage.

Despite 56% of households already owning at least one energy-efficient appliance, over half (57%) were unaware of how to make the most of the eco-settings. However, with a possible saving of £807 annually by switching to more energy-efficient home products and technology*, it’s understandable that 46% of people said they’d consider purchasing more eco-friendly appliances in the future.

David Palmer, Home Appliance Product Specialist at LG Electronics, said: “At LG, we’re committed to developing products that reduce environmental impacts throughout their life cycle. This includes enhancing energy efficiency through reduction in power consumption and standby power. But we take this commitment a step further through our ongoing innovation and research. Many of LG’s home appliances also offer unique settings and features such as our ezDispense™ Auto Detergent Dispenser and AI DD™ technology, that automatically reduces your water consumption, energy, and the amount of detergent required, that can help consumers save considerable amounts of money in the long term.”

The study of 2,000 British adults also found that one in five (20%) Brits don’t understand product energy efficiency ratings, with 31% agreeing the rating system confused and overwhelmed them.

LG Electronics’ Centum™ Fridge Freezer, ezDispense™ with Turbowash™360º Washing Machine and ezDispense™ with Turbowash™360º Washer Dryer can help consumers reduce household costs as well as energy consumption and come equipped with ‘how to’ guides and tips on how to make the most of their eco features.

Energy efficiency tips from LG:

Fridge Freezer

1.    Ensure there’s sufficient space between stored foods in the fridge, this allows the cold air to be circulated evenly and lowers your overall energy usage

2.    When storing less food than usual, consider adjusting the temperature a couple of degrees higher to reduce energy usage

3.    When going away, remember to activate Eco mode to save energy

Washing Machine

4.    The most efficient energy consumption setting is generally those that perform at lower temperatures and at a longer duration

5.    Load your appliance based on manufacturer recommendations for desired program

6.    Do not overdose with detergent. Overdosing results in increased work, decreased wash performance and impacts the condition of your clothes, an auto-dosing product will dispense the correct amount of detergent and will save you money annually

Washer Dryer

7.    Use higher spin speeds to reduce remaining moisture in clothes, this lowers your energy usage when drying clothes

8.    When using the dryer, consider using eco or low energy cycles to reduce energy usage

9.    LG’s EcoHybrid™ technology allows for a choice between normal and eco drying, the eco setting reduces water consumption, which reduces costs

Respondents also admitted that they are looking at options for immediate cost savings, with 60% agreeing they would cut back on dining out, forgo their Netflix or Amazon account (36%) and even cancel their food subscription boxes (26%) or gym memberships (25%) in order to save their money.

To find out more about LG’s full range of energy-efficient home appliances and ratings, please visit: https://www.lg.com/uk/appliances