When you buy a new appliance for your home, it will have an energy rating stuck either onto the appliance, in the manual, or both. This energy rating shows how much energy that appliance will use both in a single usage and in a year and will usually include a QR code for further information as well. These energy rating label stickers can be found on fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, televisions, tumble dryers, ovens, and light sources, among others.
How much does it cost?
When buying a new appliance, it is important to also work out how much it will cost to run the appliance. If one washing machine costs significantly less to purchase, but has a much lower energy rating, will it still save you money? The energy label can help with this. If the higher rated washing machine runs at 50kWh, and the lower rated machine runs at 100kWh, that means that you are paying twice as much for every wash. It will only take around a year before the better rated appliance overtakes the lower rated washing machine as the better financial, as well as environmental, choice.
Size matters
If you are someone living on your own, you don’t need a massive fridge freezer or a dishwasher built for a large family. Even though the appliance may have a better rating, if it is too big for your needs, it will be costing you more in the long run. If you run the dishwasher half full (or less), you are using much more energy than necessary and wasting a lot of water as well. Find out why water usage is important.
Other parts on the energy rating label
- The label for refrigerators and freezers includes the capacity and the noise of the appliance.
- Washing machines show the amount of energy used per 100 washes, capacity, how much water it uses and the noise it makes on it’s final spin.
- Dishwashers also include how much water it uses, how much energy it uses in 100 cycles, capacity and how much noise it makes.
- TVs show how much energy it uses after being on for 1000 hours, screen size, and pixel size.
For further specific details, see your owner’s manual, appliance sticker, or visit the Energy Saving Trust or other comparison websites for appliance specific rating details.
Environmental difference
The most energy efficient appliance will not only save you money in the long run with your bills, because it is reducing your energy consumption, it is also leading to fewer greenhouse gas emissions as well.
For further information on how appliance ratings work, what your energy bills mean, or a free, in-depth home energy advice session, please Get in touch and an energy adviser will be get back to you to discuss your situation and find the best possible solution for you.