EnergyGuide labels provide valuable information about a product. Let's take a closer look at what kind of information is on there and what they mean.
What's an EnergyGuide label?
FTC’s EnergyGuide label is a yellow tag that is found on most appliances. This label shows an estimate of the yearly energy cost for that appliance model based on typical usage and allows the consumer to compare the model’s energy use with similar models. Energy efficient appliances cost less to run, and they can lower your utility bills. Energy efficiency is also good for the environment as it reduces air pollution and dependence on natural resources.
Some of the appliances that have an EnergyGuide label are clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators. Cooking appliances and clothes dryers do no carry an EnergyGuide label.
What’s on a dishwasher's EnergyGuide label?
Here is what an EnergyGuide label for dishwashers looks like and here is what the symbols and numbers stand for:
1.
Key Features
The key features of the appliance that make up the cost range below are shown here.
2.
Product Model
The make and the model of the appliance are shown here.
3.
Estimated Yearly Operating Cost (With an electric water heater)
If you own an electric water heater, check this part for the estimated cost of yearly operation. This is calculated based on this appliance's yearly electricity use (shown below) and the national average cost of energy. Every appliance on the market displays this estimated cost so that you can compare the cost between different models.
For a more accurate calculation you can check the electricity cost in your city, as the national average is updated once in five years for these labels.
4.
Cost Ranges
The cost ranges that similar products on the market fall into is shown here. First line shows the cost range of models with similar features and the second line shows all models within the dishwasher category.
With the help of this cost range, you can see how energy efficient this product is compared to similar products. If the "Estimated Yearly Energy Cost" is closer to the left-hand side of the range, it means that this product is more energy efficient than most of the products similar to it.
5.
Estimated Yearly Electricity Use (kWh/year)
Estimated yearly use of energy is shown here. This is based on the appliance’s average electricity consumption with a typical use. For dishwashers, this is based on 4 washes per week.
When you multiply this amount with the national average electricity cost (mentioned at the bottom of the label) you can calculate the estimated yearly energy cost (shown above).
6.
Estimated Yearly Operating Cost (With a natural gas water heater)
If you own a natural gas water heater, check this part for the estimated cost of yearly operation. This is calculated based on this appliance's yearly typical use of 4 washes per week and the national average cost of gas (mentioned at the bottom of the label).
For a more accurate calculation you can check the gas cost in your city as the national average is updated once in five years for these labels.
7.
ENERGY STAR® Certification
If this product is certified by the EPA to be energy efficient, the ENERGY STAR® logo is shown here. Find out more in our article about ENERGY STAR® Certification!
Why should you care about energy efficiency?
For two basic reasons:
- Your household budget and
- The environment
ENERGY STAR® certified dishwashers include several innovations that reduce energy and water consumption and improve performance.
Thanks to the water-saving techniques in an energy efficient dishwasher, you can save money and use less water. This helps divert less water from our rivers, bays, and estuaries and keeps the environment healthy. It can also reduce the water and wastewater treatment costs and the amount of energy used to treat, pump, and heat water. This also lowers the energy demand and helps prevent air pollution.
