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New Energy Ratings for Appliances

How to interpret the new energy ratings for appliances.

Energy efficiency is becoming an ever more important consideration when choosing home appliances. We are all very aware of the pressing need to do our bit to help to save the planet. People are also increasingly focussed on reducing running costs as energy prices continue to rise exponentially.

Why have energy ratings changed?

For some time, we have all been familiar with the old A+, A++ and A+++ efficiency ratings. However, these rating didn’t really provide a huge amount of clarity for consumers who were trying to unravel the true eco-efficiency of household appliances. The old ratings derived from a system that lead to most appliances achieving top ratings after significant improvements were made in energy saving technology. Consequently, the ratings had become hard to interpret and the cause of much confusion.

What do the new energy ratings mean for you and your home?

The government has devised new criteria for rating the energy efficiency of appliances. Energy performance ratings now span a much wider scale, running from A-G. This allows for far greater differentiation between the various levels of efficiency. Whilst at first it may appear that some of the ratings are significantly lower than they were, it is important to be mindful that energy saving technology is constantly improving and that manufacturers are making huge advancements when it comes to producing appliances that are energy efficient. Consequently, the new ratings do not mean that the machines have regressed in terms of their energy ratings, the new system simply cannot be directly compared to the old one.

What are the new ratings for appliances?

With a new scale of A-G for energy efficiency, it is impossible to draw direct comparisons with the old ratings. The new system currently makes it much harder for brands to attain an A/B rating, which will allow for further efficiency improvements in the coming years. The bar has been raised and the new ratings are future proofed to allow for rapid technological developments.

The new system allows for much greater insight into energy efficiency.

Not only is there now a much larger scale for energy ratings, labels will allow for a more in depth understanding. You will now be able to scan a QR code on the top corner of the efficiency label by using your phone. This will give access to greater insight into the appliance’s energy efficiency. The new icons also make it easier to interpret the various features and their efficiency. At first glance, it may appear that the ratings are now low, but that is the case. This is simply about enabling a greater insight and better differentiation as technology has surpassed the point where the old system was sufficiently informative.

Importantly, as technology advances so rapidly, rental represents a more sustainable and responsible alternative than purchase.

As is underpinned by these recent changes, technology continues to rapidly evolve. One of the key benefits of rental is that it enables you to keep in-line with the latest advances whilst supporting a circular economy that has regeneration at the very core of its operation. Access to regular upgrade opportunities enable customers to benefit from the most energy efficient technology on the market without contributing to a throw-away society.