How to read an appliance energy label before you buy
The efficiency class is a starting point, not the answer. The annual consumption figure is what reaches your bill.
Meridians Desk
Published 19 May 2026 · Updated 28 June 2026 · 6 min read
HomeThe short answer
- Energy labels rank appliances by efficiency class, but the class is defined differently across product types.
- The kilowatt-hours-per-year figure is the number that translates most directly into running cost.
- Efficiency is measured against a standard test cycle that may not match how you actually use the appliance.
- A more efficient appliance can be worth a higher purchase price over its lifetime — but only if you run it enough.
An energy label is designed to make a complex efficiency test legible at a glance. Used well it saves money over years; read carelessly it can mislead.
The class is relative, not absolute
The letter or star rating ranks an appliance against others in its category, and the scale is defined per product type. A top class on a small appliance and a top class on a large one do not represent the same absolute consumption. Use the class to shortlist, not to conclude.
Find the annual consumption figure
Most labels state an estimated energy use per year, based on a standard test cycle. That kilowatt-hours-per-year number, multiplied by your electricity price, is the closest thing to a running cost you will get before buying — and it is far more decision-relevant than the class letter alone.
Compare the annual-consumption numbers across your shortlist, weigh the difference against the price gap over the appliance''s expected life, and the efficient choice usually reveals itself.
Sources
Every factual claim above is traceable to these documents. Check them — that is why they are here.
- ENERGY STAR — product efficiency informationENERGY STAR (US EPA)
- Energy label and ecodesign requirementsEuropean Commission
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Meridians Desk is an editorial desk at Meridians, not an individual. A desk byline means the article was produced and fact-checked to that desk's published standards. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy.
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