Millions are baffled by their home’s energy usage – with just one in 10 aware the electric shower is the most expensive appliance to run

The study of 2,000 adults found 47 per cent have absolutely no idea how much it costs to operate individual household items.

And a quarter of adults were convinced their KETTLE is the most expensive item to run in their home, while 14 per cent think it is the oven and 13 per cent think it is the dishwasher.

More than one third of adults reckon the tumble dryer costs the most across a period of one hour – when in reality it is cheaper than the central heating system.

One in 10 thought a fridge freezer uses more juice than a hairdryer – when in fact it uses more than 10 times less.

Energy awareness

The research was commissioned by Utilita, the energy company built on giving consumers greater energy awareness.

Their spokesperson said: “Really, the cost-per-hour of most electronics is fairly minimal, so it’s easy to ignore them.

“But when added up – or used over a substantial period of time – we can really see the difference in our energy spend, if we’re paying attention.

“When it comes to energy, knowledge is power – the more data you see about your home’s energy usage, the more money you save – it’s really as simple as that.”