Since 1980, EnergyGuide labels displayed on appliances have been helping savvy consumers make energy efficient choices. The distinctive yellow and black labels help shoppers compare the energy use of different appliance models. The more energy efficient an appliance is, the less it costs to operate, translating into lower home utility bills. Using less energy is also good for the environment, reducing air pollution and helping to conserve natural resources.
The labels don’t appear on all appliances, but the Federal Trade Commission requires their placement on any new product in the following energy-using product lines:
Although clothes-dryers, ranges and ovens, microwave ovens, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and space heaters have to meet federal minimum efficiency standards, they have been exempted from the EnergyGuide program. That’s because the amount of energy the products use does not vary substantially from model to model.
This sample label explains how to use the label as you shop.
The label includes:
The yearly operating cost is estimated by using a national average cost of electricity. Your utility may charge more or less than the average price, so remember that the EnergyGuide estimated cost is just that – an estimate.
Information on EnergyGuide labels varies from appliance to appliance. The estimated cost maybe based on the average price of natural gas instead of electricity, for example. For room air conditioners, central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and boilers, the range is not energy consumption, but rather, the energy efficiency ratings for these products (EER, SEER, HSPF & SEER, and AFUE, respectively).