The cost of keeping cool this summer could add £270 a month to energy bills. Analysis found the cost is £76 more than before the April price cap rise.
Loop energy saving app calculated the potential cost of cooling devices such as extra drinks fridges, fans and AC units. They said the cost could amount to £9 a day and £13 a day with a small pool heater for an inflatable swimming pool.
They say air conditioning units cost 33 times more than a 65w cooling device and 51 times more than a simple 40w fan to run. Meanwhile keeping beer and wine cool in an extra fridge can add nearly £25 to bills over the three months of summer.
Dr Steve Buckley, head of data science at Loop, says: “As we see this patch of warm weather, many of us will be looking for ways to stay cool, but it’s important to consider how much some of this equipment could be adding to your bills. At first glance, these costs may not seem that high on an hourly basis, but they can really add up if you’ve got a few devices running or you forget to switch them off. And many households need to do everything they can to lower their energy bills at the moment.
“Monitoring your energy usage on these cooling items by connecting Loop – the energy saving app – to your smart meter is key to making savings. The free Loop Snoop can help you easily identify the culprits draining your energy and adding pounds to your bills.”
Loop also recommends keeping a check on energy use if an outdoor garden or patio heater is switched on if the evening gets chilly. It said these could add around £50 to your monthly energy bills if used for 4 hours a day – and even more if you forget to switch them off!
How much does it cost to keep cool?
| Per hour | Per day (based on 8hrs use) | Per month | Per month (before April price cap rise) | Per year | |
| 2000W Garden pool heater (no thermostat) | £0.56 | £4.52 | £137.48 | £100.98 | £1,649.80 |
| Extra fridges e.g. beer or wine fridges | £0.03 | £0.27 | £8.25 | £6.08 | £99.00 |
| Air conditioning unit | £0.62 | £4.98 | £151.47 | £107.06 | £1,817.70 |
| 65 W Air cooler (no thermostat) | £0.02 | £0.14 | £4.47 | £3.29 | £53.69 |
| 40W Fan | £0.01 | £0.09 | £2.92 | £2.02 | £35.04 |
| 1500W Garden Heater | £0.43 | £3.40 | £103.41 | £76.04 | £1,241 |