Understanding appliance energy ratings: your guide to efficiency and savings.

In today's world, where energy costs are a significant concern to most households and awareness of environmental issues is growing, understanding how your home appliances consume power is more important than ever. When you're looking for a new fridge, washing machine, or television, you'll see an energy rating. But what do these ratings really mean, and how can they help you make smart choices that benefit both your wallet and the planet?

This guide explains appliance energy ratings, covers the changes to the energy label system, and helps you to choose energy efficient appliances that lead to energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint.

Energy appliance ratings explained: the key to efficiency.

Appliance energy rating is a standardised measure of a product's energy efficiency. It's a clear, easily understandable grade that indicates how much electricity an appliance uses to perform its function. A higher rating means the appliance is more energy efficient, consuming less power for the same output.

The main purpose of these ratings is to provide you with transparent and comparable information, allowing you to quickly assess the running costs of different models. This insight is valuable as it helps you look beyond the initial purchase price to understand the true cost of ownership over the appliance's lifespan. By choosing a product with a good energy rating, you're not just buying a device, you're investing in long-term savings on your energy bills¹ and contributing to a more sustainable future. Even with highly efficient appliances, it’s still important to be aware of vampire devices or those gadgets that continue to use energy even when they’re switched off. 

Understanding these ratings is the first step towards becoming a more energy-smart consumer. They are an essential for making environmentally responsible and cost conscious choices.

What's on the energy appliance label and how do I find it?

The energy rating isn't hidden, it's clearly displayed on what's known as the energy label. This is typically a distinctive sticker or printed label you'll find directly on the front or top of the appliance in-store. For online purchases, reputable retailers are legally required to display a digital version of the energy label and a product information sheet directly on the product's webpage.

Beyond the main letter indicating overall energy efficiency, the energy label provides a lot of useful information. Depending on the appliance type, it can include:

• Annual energy consumption: Measured in kilowatt-hours per year (kWh/annum), this figure provides an estimate of how much electricity the appliance will use over a year under standard conditions. This is a crucial metric for estimating your potential energy savings.

• Capacity: For appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, and freezers, the label will show their capacity in kilograms, litres, or place settings.

• Water consumption: For appliances that use water, such as washing machines and dishwashers, this indicates the amount of water used per cycle or annually.

• Noise emissions: Measured in decibels (dB), this lets you know how loud the appliance is when in operation, which can be an important factor for certain living spaces.

• Specific programme durations: For washing machines and dishwashers, you might see the duration of their eco programme.

• QR Code: Newer labels often include a QR code. Scanning this with your smartphone will take you to an online database where you can access more detailed technical information about the product.

Becoming familiar with all the details on the energy label helps you compare products to find the perfect blend of efficiency, features, and performance for your home.

Energy appliance rating label examples.

Here's a closer look at what you'll find on those energy rating labels, giving you the lowdown on how efficient your appliances really are. Every label clearly shows the product's energy efficiency rating and other handy bits of info specific to that appliance. There's also a QR code you can scan if you want to dig a bit deeper.

Fridges and freezers.

When you're checking out a fridge or freezer, the energy label will tell you all about its storage capacity for both chilled and frozen food. It also gives you a heads-up on how much noise the appliance makes.

Wine storage fridges.

For wine storage fridges, the energy label lets you know exactly how many bottles it can hold. Plus, it'll tell you how much noise it emits, so you can pick the quietest option for your space.

Washing machines.

Looking at a washing machine's energy label, you'll see its energy consumption per 100 washes. It also gives you details on its capacity and how long the 'Eco 40-60' programme takes. You'll also find information on water consumption and how much noise it makes.

Washer-dryers.

Washer-dryer energy labels break down the energy consumption per 100 washes and its rated capacity. You'll also see figures for water consumption, the duration of a full cycle, and noise emissions. The label clearly separates the information for a combined wash-and-dry cycle versus a wash-only cycle.

Dishwashers.

Dishwasher energy labels highlight the energy consumption for an 'eco' setting over 100 cycles. It also details the 'eco' setting's water consumption and how long it runs for. You'll find the dishwasher's capacity and its noise emissions too.

TVs and electronic displays.

For TVs and other electronic displays, the energy label shows you the energy consumption per 1,000 hours of use. This is provided for both standard dynamic range (SDR) and high dynamic range (HDR) settings. It also includes the screen size and resolution in pixels.

The new energy appliance label system: what changed in 2021?

In 2021 energy labels underwent a major overhaul. This was primarily due to the success of the old system: so many appliances were achieving the top A+, A++, or A+++ ratings that it became challenging for consumers to tell the difference between the most efficient products. The new system aims to simplify the scale and provide more room for future technological advancements.

Changes to the energy label system.

• New A-G scale: The most noticeable change is the simplification of the rating scale. The highest rating is now simply A, and the lowest is G. The confusing A+, A++, and A+++ designations have been removed.

• Tougher standards: The most crucial point to understand is that an A grade on the new label represents a more energy-efficient product than the previous A+++ grade. The new "A" is a much stronger standard, reserved only for the best-performing appliances in terms of energy efficiency. This means that an appliance previously rated A+++ might now be rated as a B or C under the new system², even if its actual energy consumption hasn't changed. This is not because the appliance has become less efficient, but because the scale has shifted and become more demanding.

• Phased rollout: While the new labels were introduced from March 1, 2021, for certain product categories (fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, TVs, and displays), you might still encounter appliances with the old labels, especially for product categories like tumble dryers, heaters, and kitchen appliances, or older stock. In some cases, you might even see both labels on a single product.

Comparing old and new energy ratings.

It's understandable to be confused by the change, especially when trying to compare an older appliance or an appliance with an old label to a new model. Here's a general guide to help you understand how old ratings translate to the new scale:

• Old A+++: This is broadly equivalent to a B or C rating on the new label.

• Old A++: This typically translates to a D or E rating on the new label.

• Old A+: You can expect this to be equivalent to an F or G rating on the new label.

This update allows for differentiation among highly efficient products and provides room for future technical developments. It's essential to look for the new, simplified A-G label when making purchasing decisions to ensure you're comparing like for like.

Making smart energy choices for your home.

Understanding appliance energy ratings is essential for modern consumers. These ratings are designed to help you identify truly energy efficient products that will not only perform well but also reduce your household's electricity consumption.

By actively prioritising appliances with higher energy ratings – especially those clearly marked with the new A-G scale – you are making a conscious decision to secure significant money savings on your energy bills year after year. The effect of these choices can free up funds for other priorities.

Beyond the financial benefits, every choice of an energy efficient appliance contributes positively to environmental sustainability. By reducing your household's overall energy demand, you play a vital role in cutting down carbon emissions.

So, before your next appliance purchase, take a few moments to thoroughly examine the energy label. It's a small, quick step that can lead to long-term energy savings and a home that is both more economical to run and kinder to the planet. Embrace the power of appliance ratings and start your journey towards a more energy-smart and sustainable lifestyle today.

Appliance energy ratings and labels: your questions answered 

Navigating the world of appliance ratings can bring up a lot of questions. Here are some frequently asked questions.

¹ https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/cutting-your-energy-bills/article/how-much-your-appliances-cost-to-run-a7N937v2SWom

² https://energyguide.org.uk/appliance-energy-ratings/

³ Calculated using Which data comparing annual running costs for integrated fridge freezers, accurate as of July 2025

⁴ Calculated using Which data comparing annual running costs for washer dryers, accurate as of July 2025