If you've ever been shopping for a major home appliance, you have probably noticed the large yellow label placed on practically every appliance on the sales floor. The EnergyGuide Label is required by law on most new major appliances, including dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and clothes washers; while several home appliances, such as microwaves, dryers and ranges are exempt because there is virtually no difference between models.
The information given on the EnergyGuide Label is governed by the U.S. Department of Energy and is very useful for comparing the energy use and estimated annual cost of for major home appliances, which can help you determine if the cheapest refrigerator or dishwasher will actually be the best deal over time.
The EnergyGuide Label
There are three main sections of the EnergyGuide Label which will give you all the information you need to determine if the home appliance you are considering is energy efficient. Each section of the EnergyGuide Label is about one third of the label from top to bottom.
- Top Section - The top section of the EnergyGuide Label will give you general information about the home appliance, such as the manufacturer's name, the typ of appliance it is, the model number of the home appliance and the capacity.
- Middle Section - The middle section of the EnergyGuide Label is a comparison of the the home appliance's energy efficiency with other similar available models on the market. The model which uses the least amount of energy is displayed on the left and the model that uses the most energy is displayed on the right. The EnergyGuide Label shows where each appliance falls within the range of most and least efficient home appliances.
- Bottom Section - The bottom section of the EnergyGuide Label shows an annual estimate of the operating costs for each individual home appliance. The estimate is based on the average energy costs from around the country from normal, everyday use. It is important to note this is only an average and your individual energy costs will vary depending on your usage and your energy plan.
For more information on how you can conserve energy at home and lower your fuel costs, visit Energy Savers, the U.S. Government's guide for businesses and homeowners, providing tips on utilizing clean, renewable energy while at home or on the road.