Yahoo Finance Energy ratings explained: How to buy best appliances to cut gas and electricity bills
With energy prices continuing to rocket and the price cap set to rise in April, the efficiency of household products has never been so important.
So which are the most energy efficient white goods and how can consumers ensure they are buying appliances which will use minimal electricity?
Energy ratings
All modern white goods are tested to see how much energy they use and are assigned an energy score from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). But, confusingly, consumers may still find some products listed under the old system of A+++ to G.
New appliances will have an energy label which includes this score and details of the amount of energy the product uses and how it compares with similar goods.
If a washing machine is more than 10 years old it is likely to be G-rated under the ErP (Energy Related Products Directive) boiler rating system, meaning it could be less than 70% efficient, warns Wendy King of energyguide.org.uk.
By trading this appliance in for a new A-rated model, you could save around £50 a year in running costs and around 500kg of carbon emissions each year.
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It is also important to consider the size of the appliance you need. Two different sized appliances with the same energy rating may use different amounts of electricity. For instance, a G-rated 265-litre fridge freezer could cost around £60 a year to run compared to a larger 424-litre fridge freezer with a better F rating which could cost around £65 annually.
The Energy Saving Trust is a great reference point for more information on how energy labels work.
Washing machines and dryers
Washing machines use an energy rating scale of A to G. Choosing an A-rated washing machine over a D-rated one could save the user around £95 over its 11-year lifetime. The most efficient dryers could save the user £455 over a 13-year lifetime.
This Haier washing machine priced at around £699 has an A rating and a lifetime running cost of £311. And one of most energy efficient tumble dryers on the market is this Miele model — but it comes with a high price tag of £1,100.
Fridge freezers
Both fridges and freezers have energy ratings from A to G. A change in the system from March 2021 means the A+++, A++ and A+ ratings are no longer used for these appliances. This means there are few fridge-freezers which meet the criteria for A to C ratings and so a good starting point is often C or D.
A D-rated model will save the user around £510 in the 17-year lifetime of the product compared with a G-rated unit.
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The best rated fridge-freezers inevitably cost more, such as the LG Centum with an A energy rating. It costs around £30 a year to run but costs around £1,600 to buy.
A slightly more affordable option is this C rated Bosch model currently priced at £739.
Televisions
With their LED backlit screens, modern televisions can be a huge drain on power. The larger the television screen the more energy it will use, regardless of its energy rating.
"The wrong choice can set you back thousands in electricity bills," warns Wazeem Mirza, technology expert and host of the Future Tech show.
The change in energy ratings has affected televisions too so a device that was previously A+ will now have a G rating.
This 32-inch Samsung television has an F rating but only costs an estimated £76 to run over its lifetime and costs around £229.
Dishwashers
Dishwashers are also fairly energy inefficient and almost 8% of home electricity bills are spent running one, according to the Energy Saving Trust. The average running cost is between £40 and £55 for a standard size dishwasher but reduces to £30 to £45 for a slimline one.
The most efficient appliances still only have a D rating and cost £15 a year less to run than the lowest rated machines.
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This AEG model costs around £599 and has a lifetime running cost of £644.
Ovens
These products still fall under the old energy rating system with gas and electric ovens rated A+++ to G.
A reasonable priced A-rated electric cooker will cost around £300, such as this Amica model.