Black Friday shoppers thinking of treating themselves to a bargain electrical appliance should make sure they understand how to tell the difference between an energy-efficient angel and an energy-guzzling nightmare.
Most fridges, washing machines, televisions and other household white goods and tech now come with labels explaining how energy efficient they are - but a third of consumers say they don't understand a new system adopted last year, according to research by comparison site Uswitch.
The original energy ratings labels were introduced by the EU in 1995, but they had makeover in the UK last spring which scrapped the confusing A+, A++ and A+++ ratings and reset the scale back to A to G. The Energy Saving Trust says the use of multiple + signs reduced clarity as modern products occupied the top two or three classes in the old scale, with more and more appliances over time moving into the A+++ category.
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This made it hard to identify the most energy-efficient appliances. More than 90% of appliances had an A+++ rating under the old system, so working out which product is the most efficient was difficult. Appliances previously labelled as A+++ will sit roughly in class B or C under the new scheme, which can make it harder to compare older appliances to newer ones.
And to add to the confusion, a lot of shops are still selling appliances rated A+, A++ and A+++ under the old system, which might make an appliance appear to be more energy efficient than it actually is, when compared to something that is rated using the new system.
Efficiency has become massively important this year, as most households are paying more for their energy, and will continue to do so for some time if the latest forecasts are correct. Understanding energy efficiency labels can help consumers make some serious savings in the long run, or stop them overspending on an 'energy saving' device that will never pay for themselves.
Most people will have seen these stickers on appliances and white goods in their homes. They give a colour-coded rating to tell users how energy-efficient the appliance is. Appliances are tested for how much energy they consume at a 'typical' level of use and are then rated on a scale of A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the least efficient.
The label should also tell you how much energy your device will use in kilowatt hours, but this will vary between appliances. A fridge-freezer shows how much energy it will use over the course of a year, while a washing machine label will show how much energy it uses for 100 washes, for example. You can work out exactly how much your energy your appliance is using here.
Here we take a look at the new ratings and what they mean for most appliances.
Washing machines
Previously, washing machine labels stated their energy ratings based on annual usage, but the new labels are based on 100 cycles, making it easier to compare different machines. The new “Eco 40-60” programs can also now combine cotton, linen, and mixed fabrics into one efficient cycle.
Washer dryers
Washer dryer energy ratings are also now based on 100 cycles instead of annual usage, and washer dryer “Eco 40-60” programs can incorporate mixed fabrics too. Washer dryer labels will be split into two halves, based on a complete wash and dry cycle and the wash cycle only.
TVs and monitors
Measurements are now given in kWh per 1000 hours to make it easier to compare different TVs and monitors, and new developments like SDR and HDR are now be included on the label.
Dishwashers
Cups, pots, and plastic utensils are now be used to test cleaning and drying performance and the energy consumption ratings for dishwashers will be based on 100 cleaning cycles instead of annual usage.
Fridge freezers
The labels on fridge freezers will now include many more details, such as the room temperature, and the number and size of storage compartments. The new labels will also include the total volume of both refrigerator and freezer compartments.
There's also room for extra useful information on the new label, including the noise level of an appliance, the amount of water used per use, and the duration of a cycle or wash., so when you're looking to buy a new appliance, it makes sense to weigh up the cost of purchasing it against how much the cheaper running costs might save you on energy bills.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch said: "You might save yourself a hundred pounds by getting a budget appliance, but you could be left paying a hefty energy bill as some devices can cost five times as much to run as their more energy efficient alternatives. How quickly a more efficient appliance pays for itself depends on the product, but sometimes low-energy devices can cost the same as gadgets that will run up three times the energy bill."
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