Background guide #5
Background guide to...energy ratings
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Pub Fact
- On average washing machines do 274 cycles a year
- UK households spend £1.2 billion worth of electricity every year, just on refrigeration and freezing
- Running a dishwasher cycle on an inefficient appliance costs around 11p. The same cycle on an energy efficient machine costs only 6p - a difference of 5p per wash
The EU energy label
Retailers are obliged by law to make sure that consumers shopping for certain categories of products can view an EU energy label for each item on sale. The categories include fridges, freezers, dishwashers, cookers, light bulbs, lamps and air conditioners.
The EU energy label rates each product on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). But a few specific points or exceptions are worth noting:
- Fridges and freezers Most modern fridges score highly, so the A- G scale has been extended to include A+ (more efficient than A) and A++ (most efficient of all)
- Washing machines These are often described with three letters - AAB, for example. The first letter refers to efficiency (as measured for a fully loaded 60ºC cycle), the second to wash performance and the third to spin dry performance
- Cars The A-G rating refers to CO2 emissions rather than fuel efficiency as such, though the two go hand in hand
The EU label also offers lots of other information - the specifics depend upon the product. For example, the light output of a light bulb or the water consumption and noise level of a washing machine.
Energy Saving Recommended
In addition to the legally required EU label, some products also display an Energy Saving Recommended logo, which means they've been approved by the Energy Saving Trust.
To be awarded the logo, a product must meet the EST's criteria for the relevant product category: A+ or above for fridges, for example, and AAA for washing machines.
Helpfully, the Energy Saving Recommended logo can be found on products, including double glazing and boilers, which aren't required to display an EU energy label.
The EU Ecolabel
Aside from the obligatory energy labelling scheme, the EU also administers a voluntary Ecolabel scheme that manufacturers can use to highlight environmentally friendly products.
There are Ecolabel criteria for everything from washing up liquid through to fridges. The requirements for energy efficiency aren't always particularly strict - dishwashers rated A, B or C qualify - but the rules also cover "cradle to grave" considerations. These include whether they can be recycled and the chemicals released during manufacture.
What can you do
- Use energy efficient appliances
- Generate your own electricity
- Monitor your electricity use
These guides have been reproduced from BBC Green, part of BBC Worldwide.
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