Buying Energy-Saving Appliances: The How-To Guide

Energy Labeling

What does the energy label on the household appliances and machines we buy for our homes mean? And is it that important to choose the right one? Here we explain the concepts and show how much you can save.

Have you considered looking at the energy label when buying new appliances? If not, here’s a new product just for you! The energy label helps you find the most energy-efficient and climate-smart white goods. In addition, you get lots of other good information about the product, e.g., noise level, water consumption, and time consumption. The EU will launch a new label with updated requirements for energy consumption and Eco design.

Energy-efficient products save money, resources, and the environment. The main goal is to make things easy for consumers to choose energy-efficient household appliances and, in the longer term, for more energy-efficient models to be manufactured and sold. Energy labeling is available to make it easier for consumers to see how energy-efficient the various products are. Therefore, the products must be provided with energy labeling that the consumer can inspect before purchasing. From January 1, 2006, the Swedish Energy Agency (STEM) has been responsible for this labeling.

When will the New energy label take effect?

The new label will take effect from March 1, 2021. The new regulations must have labeled all white goods in the product groups concerned. However, the change is preceded by a transitional period from November 1, 2020, where both labels are permitted.

As a consumer, however, one should avoid comparing the new and the old brand during the transition period, as the two labels have different requirements and test methods. Whether you’re hesitant, it’s best to get guidance from a white goods expert.

How to read the New label?

Further and importantly, it is critical to understand that only the product’s eco-program is tested and specified via the energy label. It especially applies to machines that often offer more programs, such as washing machines and dishwashers.

At the top of the new label, you will find the energy class on a green-yellow-red colored scale from A to G. The greener the color, the better the energy class. Below the energy class is the number of kWh consumed per 100 uses.

On the lower part of the brand, there is a pictogram that indicates specific measurement values for the type of white goods in question: for washing machines, you will find, e.g., water consumption, the time required on the washing program, the maximum number of gallons of washing the machine can take, the noise level for spinning and rinsing efficiency.

This dishwasher consumes twelve liters per batch.

How much water do you use when hand washing twelve plates? Because it is the same thing that goes in the dishwasher, including for rinsing, but for hand washing the same items, you usually count on about 36 gallons of water. A dishwasher from the Electrolux line Green Range has the following energy label: Energy class A, dishwashing power A, drying power A.

Which products are Covered by the New label?

The development has been different for different product types, so that the new label will be available in several product groups. These are:

• Refrigerates and freezes
• Wine coolers
• Dishwashers
• Washing machines
• Combined washers and dryers
• Light sources
• TV sets
• Monitors

Save thousands of dollars – Every year

Say you have all the big electric culprits in your home, i.e., a fridge, a laundry machine with a dryer, a freezer, an oven, and a dishwasher. If all the products are at least ten years old, they are probably among the worst energy classes. According to the average consumption of the individual white goods, their total energy consumption can be estimated at approximately. If you convert it into electricity costs, the sum will be a few thousand dollars depending on specific countries and electricity suppliers.

We count on it – Twice

Sure, it sounds nice to save a few bucks a year. But to do that, you must invest. The expense of 5 new large and energy-efficient white goods would cost a lot, which means it can take a few years before they can pay off, depending on how energy-efficient variants you buy.

It is most reasonable to replace the fridge and freezer first, as the older models are three to four times as energy-consuming as today’s most efficient models. The next appliance for replacement would be the oven, as it is also one of the largest energy consumers in the household – mainly if you use it every day.

In this comparison, we have ignored all the other possible benefits of modern appliances, but do not forget to consider them when buying new appliances.