Have you ever seen an energy star rating and wondered, what on earth is that for? If so, then you’re in luck! This handy guide aims to explain everything you need to know about energy star ratings, as well as why they’re so important, using the simplest terms to make everything as understandable as can be. So, if you’re interested in learning what the energy star rating is all about, then read on to discover more today!
Why does energy efficiency matter?
Appliances that have better energy efficiency use less electricity, which no doubt influences a variety of different factors for the average homeowner. The minimal electricity use makes it kinder to the environment in the long run, as the less energy that you use, the better. Making sure you can promote the best energy efficiency inside your home will also allow you to keep your property up and running without having to shell out a fortune in bills and other costs, as you can keep your power use to an all-time-low without having to switch off all of your appliances.
Reading the information listed on the energy star rating label will help you to make the most informed choice – you can calculate the average running cost of a specific appliance, which should in turn help you to cut your bills like never before.
Which products display an energy rating label?
Energy star ratings exist on: dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers, fridges and freezers, air conditioning units and even on televisions sets, too. In some instances energy rating labels are mandatory, so it would be against the law for a manufacturer not to include ratings on the aforementioned appliances before sending them to stores to sell.
How to read an energy rating label
To accurately read an energy rating label, search for 2 key pieces of information: the star rating, and the energy consumption figure.
- Energy consumption:
Energy consumption tells you exactly how much energy (in kWh) that your chosen appliance is going to get through in 1 year. You can use this data from your energy rating label to work out how much it will cost you to use the appliance.
- Star rating:
Star ratings show more about energy efficiency. Star ratings tend to use a 6 or 10 star scale, and the lower an appliance’s energy consumption, the higher the star rating is going to be. So, a higher star rating suggests an appliance is energy efficient and cheap to operate!
Using the label to calculate running costs
To calculate the running cost of an appliance, you simply need to divide the energy consumption figure by 4.
Here’s an example:
A fridge that uses 400 kWh will likely cost around $100 a year to run.
Annual cost to run = Energy Consumption (kWh) x Electricity Tariff (cents/kWh) = 400 x 0.25 = $100
Australian energy rates range from around $0.20 – $0.30 per kWh, so if you’d like an even more exact estimate then it’s best to take the opportunity to check your individual electricity tariff rate on your energy bill.
Final Thoughts
If you want to learn more about star ratings so that you can improve the energy efficiency of your home, then it may be worth having a home energy audit from an expert electrician.