Do you know how to read the EnergyGuide Label?
You’ve probably seen the bright yellow label around your home on appliances such as the water heater, or whenever you purchase a new refrigerator, or central air conditioner. The Federal Trade Commission requires these labels to be placed on all new appliances by their manufacturers. The label is designed to easily provide you with important information regarding the energy consumption of that particular appliance compared to appliances within the same category. While this is only an average number, it is a great guide to helping you pick out the right water heater, refrigerator, or any other large appliance that you may be installing in your home.
How to read the EnergyGuide Label
The information on the EnergyGuide label is set the same on almost every appliance to make it easy to get the information you need, and quick. Below is an example of an EnergyGuide Label with a breakdown to help you get the most out of your next major appliance purchase.
- The general category and key features of the appliance, as well as similar appliances that fit into the same cost comparison.
- Manufacturer, model number, and size or capacity of the appliance.
- This section displays the average annual energy usage of the appliance.
- The estimated yearly operating cost of the appliance based on the national average cost of electricity. On newer labels it is now displayed along with the operating costs of other similar appliances.
- This location will contain the ENERGY STAR ® logo, which states that that model meets the criteria for energy efficiency.
So the next time you venture out to the local home improvement store to look at appliances, or have a contractor install that new water heater or central air conditioner, take a look at the bright yellow EnergyGuide label stuck to the side to see what it’s operating costs are going to be in your home.
Read more about the EnergyGuide label from the Federal Trade Commission.
