environmentweb guide to energy labels
Under European Law all European manufacturers and retailers must display an energy label that provides you with information on the efficiency of products including fridges, freezers, washing machines, ovens, dishwashers, air conditioners and light bulbs. However the labels aren't always straightforward to understand and on top of that several independent organisations exist that endorse efficient products with their own labels. This guide will help to explain the European Energy Label as well as some other common energy labels to help you make a more informed decision when you're buying your next appliance.
European Energy Label
As I mentioned, the European Energy Label is required by law on appliances in Europe, so if you can't see it straight away ask the retailer to find it for you.
Here is an example energy label for a washing machine:
Numbers 1 to 11 mark the main points of interest on the label. Here is a brief description of each:
1. Product type - in this case a washing machine
2. Manufacturer & model number - check that this matches the product that you're looking at to make sure you aren't being misled
3. The energy efficiency rating - For most products this will be A-G however fridges and freezers may also now carry A+ and A++ ratings. The higher the rating, the more efficient the product and the more you'll save in the long run. More efficient appliances are by no means lower quality than their less efficient equivalents.
4. European Ecolabel - If this appears on the label then the product has been independently assessed to ensure it meets strict environmental criteria, making it among the best in its class.
5. Energy Consumption - This provides an estimate of the energy use of the appliance under 'normal' conditions. For the washing machine here it is kilowatt hours per cycle, while for other appliances such as fridges and freezers it will be kilowatt hours per year. Using this you can calculate the running cost of the product by multiplying it by the price of a unit of electricity - currently about 7p. This will also allow you to calculate the savings you can make by buying a more efficient appliance.
6. Washing performance - This will appear on washing machines and dishwashers and indicates the washing performance according to industry standard tests, with A being best performance and G worst.
7. Spin drying performance - If it's relevant the product will also show information on it's spin or drying performance, again based on industry standard tests with A rating being best performance.
8. Spin speed - The maximum spin speed that will be reached during a spin cycle in revolutions per minute (rpm).
9. Capacity - How much the appliance can hold in an appropriate form. For the washing machine here it is kilograms of cotton, for fridges and freezers it will be volume of fresh and frozen food in liters, for ovens it will be the volume in liters and for dishwashers it will be place settings.
10. Water consumption - Washing machines, washer-dryers and dishwashers will show the water consumption per wash or wash & dry cycle in liters, so you can judge their efficiency in this respect.
11. Noise - This information isn't compulsory, but manufacturers may also provide information on how loud the appliance is while operating to help you choose quieter appliances. The lower the number, the easier it will be on the ear.
Other common energy labels
As well as the European Energy Labels there are several other common labels that denote energy efficient appliances. The most common of these include:
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The Energy Efficiency Recommended logo is an initiative run by the Energy Saving Trust and backed by the UK Government. Their certification indicates that a product is one of the most efficient available, for example fridges must be A+ and washing machines must be rated A for energy, wash quality and spin. It covers a wide range of products not all of which are covered by the European Energy Label, such as insulation, glazing and TVs with built in digital tuners. For more details visit http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ |
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The energy star is a joint program between the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy to identify energy efficient products. It can be seen on a number of UK products imported from the US, particularly computer monitors which were the first product to employ this logo. For more details visit http://www.energystar.gov/ |
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The Energy Technology List logo is particularly relevant for business buyers. It marks items which, under the Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) scheme managed by the Carbon Trust, allow 100% of the investment in energy-saving plant and machinery to be written off against taxable profits for the period in which the investment was made. For more details visit |
