Whats the Energy Rating Label All About
Have you ever been into a shop to purchase an electrical item and been met with the confusing label that has some writing and stars on. You may not understand a single word of that label and it could lead to you buying the wrong thing and paying a fortune in electricity. With the cost of living rising and the prices of energy through the roof, you want to make sure you are getting the very best for your money. This article is all about how to understand and interpret that label.
Why does energy efficiency matter?
You may have heard about something called global warming. This happens when the earth’s surface temperature gradually rises each year. This is mainly caused by humans burning fuels to stay warm and heat their homes and offices. Energy efficiency is the act of trying to use less energy to reduce the effect of global warming. Every electrical product we use in our homes uses energy. Some products are better than others and will come with a better overall energy rating. This is what the little stars and numbers mean on that label attached to the electrical product you are looking at in store or online.
Which products display an energy rating label?
It is mandatory for stores and products to display the energy rating label on the following appliances. You will commonly see them on
- Fridges
- Freezers
- Washing machines
- Tumble dryers
- Dishwashers
- Air conditioning units
- Televisions
- Computers
Although it isn’t legal to display energy rating labels online, you will also find them here as most consumers wish to know how much energy the product they wish to buy will use.
How to read an energy rating label
You may still be confused by what everything means on the energy rating label. Simply put, you will see:
- The star rating at the top of the label – which means how energy efficient the product is overall.
- The energy consumption figures at the bottom of the label – this shows how much energy the product uses per year.
Electrical appliances are given a star rating out of ten. The closer to ten you get, the most energy efficient the product will be. Don’t be fooled by the star rating however, if you see a card with six stars then this is not super efficient. You should always be on the lookout for those labels with ten little stars.
Using the label to calculate running costs
You can use the energy rating labels to work out how much a product will cost to run each year, this will be helpful as you don’t want to be spending a fortune. Do be aware that the energy consumption number you see on the label is only based on average use. If you are looking at a particular product in store and want to do some quick maths on how much it would cost to run then you can use this method. Take the energy consumption figure and divide it by four. This will give you the answer you are looking for.
If you are still unsure about anything in this article or the energy rating label on products then you could always get in touch with a trusted electrician. They will give you all the information you need.
