Energy Ratings UK

Energy ratings help us understand how energy-efficient an appliance is, giving us an insight into its impact on the environment and what the long-term costs may be.

Energy labels allow us to buy the most energy-efficient goods, reducing our bills and our carbon footprint. To help you better understand energy ratings and shop for the best electrical appliances, YESSS Electrical have created this ultimate guide on energy ratings.

What is An Energy Rating?

An energy rating is a way of measuring how energy-efficient an appliance is. 

A white label showing a colour-coded rating from A to G is located on most electrical appliances. This tells us the energy performance of the appliance, helping us to understand how much it will cost to run, and how energy-efficient it is in comparison to other models.

How Are Energy Ratings Calculated?

The ratings are calculated based on the amount of energy an appliance uses, the fewer the units of energy used, the better the rating. Energy ratings are calculated by standardised tests. For example, a washing machine is assessed on how much energy is used after 100 washes, whilst a dishwasher is tested on how much water and energy is used over 100 cycles.

New Energy Ratings

Energy labels were first introduced in the EU in 1995. From the 1st of March 2021, energy labels changed from the previous A+, A++, A+++ format to a scale from A to G for refrigerators, freezers, TVs, dishwashers and washing machines. Washing machines now have two energy ratings, one for washing and one for drying.On October 2021, the same scale was applied to lighting. 

Currently, tumble dryers, ovens and other electronics are still using the old system, but they are likely to be updated in 2022.

The recent change makes it more difficult for an appliance to be A or B rated, encouraging manufacturers to improve the efficiency of their appliances. By making small changes to the way in which appliances are manufactured, brands can reduce the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere and help us meet net zero carbon targets by 2050. 

The new energy ratings help to support the increased demand in environmentally-friendly products and make it easier for consumers to identify the most efficient appliances on the market.

What Does the New Energy Ratings Label Look Like?

The new energy rating label contains the following:

• A QR code that can be scanned with a smartphone to reveal additional product information, linking to the manufacturer’s website
• A simplified scale from A-G
• Improved icons to provide additional information, making it easier to spot the most energy-efficient product
• Energy consumption presented as kWh per year, per 1,000 hours or per 100 cycles
• Extra information at the bottom of the label (such as water use per wash)

Here’s an example of the new energy label (for a dishwasher) compared to the old label:

Old Label

New Label

Energy Ratings Explained: What’s the Best Energy Rating?

The best energy rating, and the one you should be looking out for when shopping for an electrical appliance is A. The worst energy rating is G, an appliance with this rating will use the most amount of energy to do its job, making it more expensive to run.

D rated appliances are still energy-efficient. However, an A, B or C-rated appliance is the best option as it will use the least amount of energy to do its job, making it better for your wallet and the planet.

How to Choose the Most Energy-Efficient Appliance

Here’s our recommendation on how you can choose the most energy-efficient appliances for your home, office or work space:

Choose the correct size

Avoid buying a bigger product than you need, as this will use more electricity than required. 

Opt for the highest possible energy rating

Remember when shopping for an electrical appliance, you should choose the most energy efficient product in your price range, as this will save you more money in the long run.

With the new energy ratings, finding an A-rated appliance is quite rare, as not many electrical products are currently able to meet the new requirements. Nevertheless, you should always try to opt for the highest-rated appliance where possible. At YESSS Electrical, we stock a range of highly-rated, energy efficient products that are sure to meet all of your electrical needs. 

Read the energy rating label

When purchasing a new appliance, be sure to read all of the information provided on the energy label. This will help you make an informed choice, considering the total cost of running the appliance, not just the cost on the price tag.

Save Energy With YESSS Electrical

Here at YESSS Electrical, we only stock the most energy-efficient appliances. With over 50 years of experience, we are the fastest growing electrical wholesaler in the UK with over 95 branches nationwide. Shop our fantastic range of energy-efficient appliances today.