What do the energy ratings on my appliance mean? A-G ratings explained
It is important to understand an appliance’s energy efficiency label when shopping for home improvements to your kitchen or utility room.
Knowing what these stickers mean will give you the confidence to choose appliances that suit your home and lifestyle, while also helping you keep household energy bills under control.
At Hotpoint, we’re here to make sure you feel confident when reading an energy rating label - so you can select the right appliances for your home with ease.
Understanding how energy ratings work in the UK
Everyone can benefit from being more energy efficient. Using less gas and electricity reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps lower energy costs and bills. Checking an appliance’s energy label before buying gives you a clear picture of how much energy it consumes. These labels provide key information on:
Appliances are rated on a scale from A to G, with A being the most energy-efficient and G the least. Remember, an energy rating label is different from an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which measures the energy efficiency of an entire home or building rather than a single appliance. |
What to expect on energy rating labels across different appliances
Every appliance you purchase will come with an energy rating label. If you’re still comparing options, you can also find each product’s energy label in the Safety & Technical Documents section on our website.
Across all appliances, energy labels include the following key elements:
- The A-G scale –This energy classification system takes up around half of the label and is shown on the left-hand side. The letter scale runs from deep green (A: most efficient) to red (G: least efficient).
- The black pointer symbol – Located on the right-hand side of the label next to the A–G scale, this marker shows the exact energy rating of the appliance you’re viewing or have purchased.
- The energy consumption measurement – Located directly underneath the A-G scale, this will let you know how much energy an appliance uses per 100 cycles, per year, or per 1,000 hours of use (depending on the type of machine).
- The QR code – Located in the top right corner, this patterned black and white square can be scanned with a smartphone to receive in-depth information about an appliance’s energy rating and other product information.
Further details – At the top of the label around the QR code, you will also see:
- The Union Jack (confirming the appliance complies with UK regulations)
- The name of the appliance supplier
- The appliance’s model identifier
How an energy label will differ across appliances is with the pictograms displayed towards the bottom of the label. These images detail information about technology only found on a specific type of machine, as follows:
On dishwashers, you can expect to find:
- Cycle length (measured in hours and minutes when an eco programme is selected)
- Highest amount of place settings possible
- Noise emission rating (measured from A to D)
- Noise level (measured in decibels)
- Water consumption (measured in litres per cycle)
On fridge freezers, you can expect to find:
- Freezer capacity (measured in litres)
- Fridge capacity (measured in litres)
- Noise emission rating (measured from A to D)
- Noise level (measured in decibels)
On tumble dryers, you can expect to find:
- Condensation efficiency rating (measured from A to G)
- Cycle length (measured in minutes, when a full cotton load programme is selected)
- Maximum capacity (when a standard cotton drying cycle is selected)
- Noise level (measured in decibels)
- Type of tumble dryer (for instance, condenser or heat pump)
On washer dryers, you can expect to find:
- Cycle length (measured in hours and minutes when an Eco 40-60 programme is selected)
- Maximum capacity (when an Eco 40-60 programme is selected)
- Noise emission rating (measured from A to D)
- Noise level (measured in decibels)
- Water consumption (measured in litres per cycle)
On washing machines, you can expect to find:
- Maximum capacity (when an Eco 40-60 programme is selected)
- Noise emission rating (measured from A to D)
- Noise level (measured in decibels)
- Spin drying efficiency class rating (measured from A to G)
- Water consumption (measured in litres per cycle)
On ovens and hobs, you can expect to find:
- Energy consumption (measured per cycle, usually based on a standard cooking function such as conventional or fan oven use)
- Cavity size (measured in litres, showing usable space inside the oven)
- Type of oven (e.g., electric oven, fan oven, or multifunction oven)
- Noise level (measured in decibels, if applicable)
How Hotpoint and Youreko help you choose energy-efficient appliances
At Hotpoint, we’re committed to making it simple for you to find the right energy-efficient appliances for your home.
That’s why we’ve partnered with Youreko, an energy savings tool provider, to show you the running costs and lifetime energy savings of each appliance. This way, you can easily compare products across our range and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Read this guide to learn more about how the Hotpoint and Youreko partnership can help you in selecting kitchen and laundry appliances that are not only reliable, but also kinder to both your household budget and the planet.
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