Deciphering Energy Efficiency Ratings on Household Appliances
Ready to Make Smarter Appliance Buys? A Guide to Decoding Energy Efficiency Ratings
Ready to make smarter, energy-efficient appliance choices? Here's how to read Energy Rating Labels, making sure you're well-informed about an appliance's energy efficiency and annual power consumption.
Energy Rating Labels are those snazzy red, black, and yellow stickers you find on your favorite white goods and home appliances. They serve one key purpose: to help you compare appliances' energy efficiency and predict their energy consumption.
These labels reveal two critical pieces of information: the appliance's star rating and energy consumption figure.
- Star Ratings: These ratings, ranging from 1 to 10 stars, represent how energy-efficient an appliance is. A higher number of stars equals improved energy performance. In essence, "The more stars, the more efficient the appliance or product," as explained by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER).
There are two types of labels: 6 Star and 10 Star. Appliances with a rating of 6 stars or fewer will be displayed on a six-star label using half-star increments. Appliances with a rating of 7 stars or more will show the additional stars in a band above the regular six-star label.
Star Ratings for Air Conditioners: Air conditioners have special Energy Rating Labels called Zonal Energy Rating Labels (ZERLs) because external factors like climate can impact energy consumption and efficiency. ZERLs categorize Australia and New Zealand into three climate zones, providing different figures for heating and cooling efficiency in each zone.
- Energy Consumption Figures: An appliance's energy consumption figure gives an estimate of its energy usage (in kilowatt-hours or kWh) within a year with average use. By reviewing this part of the Energy Rating Label, you can calculate the appliance's estimated annual operation cost.
How to Calculate Annual Appliance Cost: To make a quick calculation in a store, simply divide the energy consumption figure by 4.
These insights suggest that EnergyGuide Labels, similar to Energy Rating Labels, offer standardized energy consumption and cost information for consumers. Both labels enable comparisons among appliances, allowing consumers to evaluate energy consumption, make informed decisions, and consider economic factors while purchasing energy-efficient appliances or gadgets, including smart-home devices, which are key components of modern technology.
