If you’ve been appliance shopping lately, then chances are you’ve seen those bright yellow labels shown prominently on new appliances. It’s the EnergyGuide label, and if you’re looking for an appliance that can help you save energy and not break your budget, it can play a central role in helping you find the right appliance that suits your needs.
The EnergyGuide label is designed to provide information about your new appliance’s energy efficiency and how much energy it’ll use in comparison with similar appliances. It’s not hard to find one of these labels — the U.S. Department of Energy requires appliance manufacturers to have one displayed on each appliance sold on the market.
So how do you read this label? Figuring out what the numbers and other information mean and how they apply to your home energy usage is relatively simple. Every label will have the following information:
- The manufacturer, model and size of the appliance.
- The appliance’s estimated yearly operating cost and range of operating cost of similar models.
- The Energy Star logo, if applicable.
- The appliance’s estimated yearly electricity consumption.
- Key features of the appliance.
Keep in mind that the EnergyGuide label isn’t designed to show you the most efficient appliance currently on the market. However, you can use it to compare among appliances and choose the one that offers the best value in terms of energy consumption and operating cost. Also remember that your actual energy and operating costs may vary depending on a broad range of factors, including current energy rates and the influence of other appliances in your home.
Learning how to read the EnergyGuide label can help you make the best choice when it comes to your next appliance. For more information about this and other labels for appliances and HVAC products, contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services in Dayton today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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