Replace or Keep

Should you replace an old appliance or keep it running? Compare the estimated electricity cost of your current appliance with a possible replacement, then see the annual saving and how long the new one takes to pay for itself.

No sign-up required. Enter your own energy use and electricity price for a more accurate estimate.

Compare your appliances

How it works

Compare running costs before replacing an appliance

Enter the annual energy use of your current appliance and a possible replacement, your electricity price per kWh and the replacement’s purchase price. The tool estimates the annual running cost of each, the potential saving and the simple payback time. The sources and assumptions behind it are on our How we calculate page.

Your current appliance

Enter its annual energy use in kWh. You’ll find it on the energy label or product specifications, or you can measure it with a plug-in energy monitor.

The possible replacement

Enter the replacement’s annual kWh from its energy label, plus its purchase price. Use comparable sizes and settings for a fair comparison.

Your electricity price

Enter the unit price you pay per kWh. The same rate is applied to both appliances, so the difference comes only from their energy use.

Worked example

A sample appliance comparison

An older fridge-freezer using 450 kWh a year is compared with an efficient model using 200 kWh a year that costs €700, at an electricity price of €0.30 per kWh.

Step
Inputs
Calculation
Result
Existing appliance cost
450 kWh a year, €0.30/kWh
450 × €0.30
€135/year
Replacement cost
200 kWh a year, €0.30/kWh
200 × €0.30
€60/year
Estimated annual saving
Difference in running cost
€135 − €60
€75/year
Simple payback
€700 purchase price
€700 ÷ €75
≈ 9.3 years

This is an illustration, not a guarantee. It uses energy-cost savings only and excludes repairs, installation, disposal, financing and future electricity-price changes.

Understand your result

What can you do with your comparison?

Use the estimates to weigh potential energy savings against the upfront cost. The result can inform a decision, but it cannot predict future usage, tariffs or repair costs.

Check the figures

Compare annual kWh figures for similar appliances and apply the same electricity price per kWh. Check product labels and specifications against your bill.

Consider the full cost

Simple payback compares the purchase price with estimated annual energy savings. It excludes repairs, installation, disposal, financing and changing tariffs.

Compare with your needs

Consider capacity, performance, condition and how long you expect to keep the appliance. Energy savings alone do not guarantee a lower total cost.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions about appliance replacement

Common questions about comparing an old appliance with a more efficient replacement.

How do I compare two appliances?

Multiply each appliance’s annual kWh use by the same electricity price per kWh. Compare yearly costs using similar usage assumptions.

What is simple payback?

It is the replacement purchase price divided by estimated annual energy bill savings. It is a basic estimate and excludes maintenance, financing and tariff changes.

Where can I find annual energy use?

Check the energy label, product specifications or measured consumption from your own use.

Are the results guaranteed savings?

No. They depend on the figures entered; actual consumption can vary with settings, climate, maintenance and household habits.