What is the best appliance rating?

Appliance ratings explained.

Appliance ratings are given to certain types of appliances to grade their energy efficiency. You can find the appliance rating on the energy label, which is usually a sticker on the front of the product. The higher the rating, the less electricity the product will use – saving you money on your energy bills.

The new ratings.

In 2021 energy labels changed. Whilst the old label is being phased out, there are currently two versions of the energy label appearing on appliances. The A grade on the new energy label is given to the most energy efficient products. The A+++ rating is the highest grade on old energy labels, but isn’t equal to the new A rating. An A+++ is considered to be around a B or C on the new label1.

How do the old appliance ratings compare to the new ones?

If you have an appliance using the old energy label, the rating may no longer be an accurate representation of its energy efficiency. A rough guide to how old ratings compare to the new ratings is: • A+++ is now equivalent to a B or C rating. • A++ is now equivalent to a D or E rating. • A+ is now equivalent to an F or G rating.

Why have appliance ratings changed?

The 2021 changes to energy labels simplified the rating system by removing the A+++, A++, and A+ grades. The highest rating is now simply an A rating and the lowest rating now goes down to G. Additionally, an A grade on the new label represents a more energy efficient product than the previous A+++ grade. This reflects the advanced standard of energy efficiency in modern appliances, and allows room for higher ratings to be given as technology continues to improve.

Which appliances have energy labels?

You should find the new energy labels on these appliances if they were bought since 1 March 2021: • Fridges. • Freezers. • Washing machines. • Dishwashers. • TVs and displays. • Light sources (since 1 September 2021). You will currently still find the old style of energy labels on these appliances (plus, appliances listed above that were bought before 1 March 2021): • Tumble dryers. • Heaters. • Air conditioning and fans. • Kitchen appliances (such as microwaves and toasters). • Tyres. In some cases, to ease the transition, you may see both versions of the energy label on a single appliance.

What do appliance ratings measure?

The appliance rating on energy labels measures the energy consumption of the product. That is how many kW of electricity it uses per hour to run. An A grade appliance will use the least kW per hour, and a G grade appliance will use the most. Therefore, higher-grade appliances use less electricity and save you money on your energy bill. There are other useful snippets of information included on the bottom of the energy label. Such as, water consumption, noise emissions, and appliance-specific info like washing machine capacity. New labels also include a QR code that you can scan with your phone to bring up additional information about the product.

Is it worth buying a product with a good appliance rating?

Often, more energy efficient appliances have a higher price tag as they use more advanced technology. However, that doesn’t mean they are less cost effective. Buying a more energy efficient product could save you money on your energy bills as they use less electricity. According to research by Which?, this can add up to a significant saving over the lifetime of the appliance2. • Choosing an A++ rated tumble dryer instead of a B rated one could save you as much as £3,084 over the 20 year lifetime3. • An A-rated fridge-freezer could save you up to £1,916 over its 18 year lifetime compared to a similar E-rated model4. Appliance ratings give great guidance when buying a new device. However, you may also want to consider the size, water usage, noise, running time, and any other additional features, as they can also affect the cost and efficiency of appliances. That way you can work out the most energy efficient and cost effective choice to fit your needs.

Don’t let devices drain your energy.

Did you know, your appliances can still use your electricity even when they’re not in use? Find out how to defeat the vampire devices in your home and save money on your energy bills. Plus, stay savvy with your screen time by checking how much energy your TV uses. Still searching for more ways to cut down your energy bills? Take a look at our energy-saving tips and see how much you could save.