Energy Labels Explained: What Appliances to Look For

When buying a new household appliance, energy efficiency labels are a useful way to understand how much electricity or water a product will use. The UK uses a simple A to G scale, which helps you choose the most efficient appliances for your home.

What the Labels Show

Energy labels appear on fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, televisions, light bulbs, and many heating and cooling systems, including air conditioning units. Each label provides the efficiency rating (A being the most efficient), along with details such as annual energy consumption, noise levels, and in some cases, water use or storage capacity. For heating appliances like boilers and heat pumps, the Energy-related Products (ErP) directive ensures similar information is displayed.

Appliances Worth Comparing

High-consumption appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, and fridges are particularly important to check. Choosing a higher-rated model can reduce running costs over time. Freezers and combined fridge-freezers are also worth comparing, as they operate continuously and therefore account for a large share of household energy use. Even televisions and computer monitors have labels, allowing homeowners to understand energy usage as screen sizes increase.

Heating and Cooling

For homeowners considering upgrades to core systems like boilers, heat pumps, or air conditioning, efficiency labels are also handy. Modern A-rated boilers and high-efficiency heat pumps can significantly cut household energy use, while efficient air conditioning systems provide cooling with lower running costs. Talk to us about your heating and cooling needs and we can ensure you get products that meet your needs.

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