What Should You Look for on the EnergyGuide Label?

August 11, 2016

The EnergyGuide label provides a good deal of information in a standardized format about many home appliances and electronic devices. Knowing what to look for saves a lot of time when selecting a product, particularly when its energy usage is important to you.

What the Label Includes

You'll find the label on the product itself or on its packaging, and it's only found on appliances that offer varying levels of energy use, like water heaters, HVAC equipment, televisions, electronics, dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators. Each label indicates the size, model number, and the manufacturer in the top corners. The information on the top left hand side of the label shows features that differentiate the product from others. The label may indicate that the appliance is equipped with Wi-Fi to work with a smart electricity meter or home energy management systems to help conserve energy. These devices know the optimal times to run and shift some of their energy usage to off-peak hours. A prominent box in the middle of the EnergyGuide label shows you show much energy the product uses on an annual basis based on the average cost of energy and typical usage patterns. A horizontal line shows the range of energy use, while a vertical arrow indicates how much that particular product uses. Individual costs vary based on local energy rates and usage, especially for HVAC equipment and water heaters, since climate plays a major factor in how often they run.

Finding Upgraded Appliances

The most energy efficient appliances earn the Energy Star label, which you'll see prominently displayed on the bottom right-hand corner of the EnergyGuide label. Products undergo rigorous testing to earn this label and must demonstrate that they operate efficiently under a variety of conditions. The DOE has an upgraded designation within the Energy Star category, which is Most Efficient that indicates the appliance offers even greater energy savings. Understanding the EnergyGuide label will help you choose your next appliances and electronics based on their energy usage. To learn more, contact Lozier Heating & Cooling, proudly providing HVAC services for Des Moines-area homeowners. Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Des Moines, Iowa area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: "Public Domain/Wikipedia"