You may have noticed that a lot of our products are labelled with energy ratings. In fact, Beko have just released the WMB81445L washing machine that has an A+++++ energy rating. This post will help explain what these ratings really mean for your wallet.
On the 20th of June this year, energy ratings are going to change slightly. In order to help demonstrate that some appliances are much more efficient than the current A energy rating, the scale will now show A++ and A+. This is intended to make it much easier for you to make an informed choice about the appliance you wish to buy.
What is the Energy Rating
Simply put, the energy rating of an appliance is a very easy way to find out how efficient it is. It is easiest to understand if you compare energy ratings with each other. For example, if I have a washing machine with an energy rating of A, it uses less power than a washing machine with an energy rating of B.
Different appliances give different reasons for awarding an energy rating. This is where it can become quite complicated for the consumer. However, if you remember that A is always more efficient than B, it can help to navigate this tricky minefield.
The video below explains the changes happening to the rating system.
Energy Ratings and Savings
Simply put, the higher the energy rating, the more the appliance will save you on your energy bills. While it can be difficult to quantify the exact savings you will make because energy suppliers vary, the energy saving trust states that, for an A+ rated fridge-freezer, assuming that you are replacing one bought as new in 1998, can be up to £38 a year.
The saving on its own may seem modest, but if you were to fill your house with A+ rated appliances and combine that with other energy saving methods like insulation and changing your energy supplier for the best deal, you could save many hundreds of pounds over the life of the appliances.
Energy ratings are just one of the things to consider when buying a new appliance, and though they will save you money on your bills, it is important to consider the other features of the product too. For a comprehensive guide of what to consider when buying a new appliance, check out our buying guides.