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At Currys we've pulled together tips and tricks which will save an average hard-working Brit £336 a year by identifying the most wasteful household appliances.

Most washing machines, washer dryers and dishwashers have an eco-setting, which will help you save energy and money, with minimal effort. A lot of people don’t realise their appliances have this function so it’s always worth checking the front of your machine. By switching a dishwater onto an eco-setting, it can save the water use by 20-40 percent for each clean.

Heat pumps on washer dryers are also another feature to look out for when thinking about upgrading your appliances. These help to ensure the drying process is gentler on clothes while keeping running costs down, so you don’t have to worry about running up a hefty electric bill.

If the eco function isn’t available or you have an older model, there are still ways that you can save both energy and pennies.

Washing at a lower temperature of 30 degrees rather than having the temperature unnecessarily high is far more friendly on the environment as well as your wallet. Another tip is to get into the habit of turning things off or onto ‘standby’ instead of letting them run.

When upgrading or trading your tech in, be sure to check the energy labels. By choosing products in the best available energy class, households can achieve substantial savings on electricity bills - up to £145 a year, when compared to bills using older models.

At purchase, energy efficiency information should be clearly displayed and will cover everything from water consumption to eco programmes.

Shoppers can ask our experts in-store or online via the ShopLive service for further tech jargon busting.

It’s not always about the biggest, most popular product, but rather what caters to your needs.

For example, having a smaller washing machine for a smaller household can help save water, which in turn, can help save both money and effect on the environment.

In the past 12 months, we’ve noticed an increase in the number of customers who’re looking to save money and protect the environment. But interestingly, when they speak to one of our in-store or ShopLive tech experts, they’re often surprised to find that it’s not always the biggest, most popular products that are best suited to their needs and living spaces.

This rise in numbers showcases that it is key when purchasing these types of big-ticket items that you do your research and speak to a real-life tech expert where possible beforehand.

As the temperature drops outside, the heating inside starts to go up – and so do our bills, especially when we’re working from home.

Investing in a smart heater or thermostat such as the HIVE Activeheating MultiZone Thermostat or Google Nest Thermostat can help Brits easily control the heating in their homes, and are a great, simple way to start saving on bills, as they only turn on when needed.

On dark winter evenings, being conservative with lighting can be difficult however, simple swaps, such as replacing standard bulbs with LED alternatives means you will only be using a fraction of the energy of a normal bulb. Lights can then be left on as needed in the home, without the worry of a high electricity bill. The LEDVANCE Smart+ Filament Globe Dimmable LED Light Bulbs is a great option as it has 15,000 hours of lifetime, far longer than a normal light bulb.

LED lights can help reduce the average person’s carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40kg a year - the equivalent to driving a car 40 miles. Plus, consumers can save up to £9 per bulb per year.

Ditch the traditional switch and think about using smart plugs instead. Paired with an app, many smart plugs come with features that make lowering your energy consumption a piece of cake, such as automatic switch-off. Some smart plugs also allow users to input their electricity supplier’s prices into their respective apps, so usage can be monitored in real-time – great for busy households with lots of gadgets on the go at any one time.

Crowned as the worst offenders, washing machines, dishwashers and other wet appliances account for 25 percent of total average household’s electrical use – and 15 percent of total energy bills costs, becoming the worst offender for using water and energy

TVs and game consoles, which are usually left on standby, account for a worrying 19 percent of total electrical use in the average household, or nine percent of the nation’s energy bill. By switching off electronics which are on standby can save an average Brit up to £40 a year.

Everyone loves a nice cup of tea, but kettles and other cooking appliances pack an almighty punch as it’s revealed they account for 19 percent of the average household’s electricity use, which is four percent of the nation’s energy bill

Fridges and freezers consume 16 percent of the total electricity used, which equates to around nine percent of the average household’s total energy bill

Coming in just behind cold appliances, lighting comes in at around 16 percent of the total electrical use in the average home, or six percent of the total energy bill (if the cost of heating the home is factored in.)

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