Practically all Maltese households - 99.93 per cent – have a fridge, according to a recent survey.

The survey, led by the National Stastics Office, goes beyond saying what appliances are most widespread (99 per cent of households have a television set, 90.5 per cent have electric water heaters and 96.42 per cent have washing machines) and includes readings to see where the country's electricity is being used.

Taken with a sample of 61 houses measured over 30 days, lighting emerges as the highest reason for electricity bills, with water heating and refrigeration (23.88 and 21.65 per cent respectively) sharing the power-hungry podium. These trends are present in all kinds of households.

On average, apartments consume 9.86 units daily, maisonettes 10.76 units, terraced houses 11.02 units and villas 12.72 units.

The survey also shows that almost all households use energy-saving lamps, but that appliances rated for their efficiency are still not that widespread – with only 35 per cent of washing machines and 25 per cent of fridges having an A+ rating or better.

Another area which the survey examined was the use of electric water heaters, where it emerged that the vast majority of households – 78.3 per cent – only switch on the heater when they need it, rather than keep it on.

The project, carried out with the aid of EU funds, is planned to be repeated in two or three years time to compare the data and examine the usage of air-conditioners.

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