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Understand the Energy Rating Label
Get to know the Energy Rating Label so you can help consumers.
The Energy Rating Label
The Energy Rating Label helps consumers make informed choices about the appliances they buy. It provides information about two important features of the appliance, the star rating and the annual energy consumption. The label can also include other information relevant to the product.
Star rating
The star rating shows the energy efficiency of an appliance.
The more stars an appliance has, the less energy it uses.
The energy efficiency of a model is calculated by comparing the amount of output the appliance delivers with the amount of energy it consumes to deliver the output.
You should only compare star ratings and the annual energy consumption for appliances that are of a similar size, with similar features.
Star ratings between varying models cannot be accurately compared.
Changes in ratings and labels
As businesses continue to develop more efficient appliances, many models now meet the performance requirements for 4, 5 or 6 stars.
That’s why the label design now incorporates up to 10 stars to encourage manufacturers to improve the energy efficiency of appliances. Models with more than 6 stars are known as 'super-efficient' appliances.
These ratings are reviewed, and formulas are changed as new, more efficient models are made. This means that star ratings on newer models may not be comparable with star ratings of older models purchased a long time ago.
Energy consumption
The energy consumption number provides an estimate of how much energy (in kilowatt-hours or kWh) the appliance uses over a year. This allows consumers to estimate how much it will cost them to run that appliance, based on an assumption about how often the appliance will be used.
The lower the energy consumption number, the less a model costs to run – and the lower your energy bill.
The energy consumption figure on the label is an estimate. The actual figure may depend on things such as how an appliance is used, on what setting, and the temperature around the appliance.
Estimated running costs
You can estimate the running cost of the appliance using the energy consumption on the label and the formula:
Annual running cost = Total energy consumption kWh × Electricity tariff (dollars per kWh)
For example, if a fridge has an energy consumption of 318 kWh and the average tariff in your state is $0.307 per kWh — then the estimated annual running cost per year is $97.63 (318 kWh x $0.307).
More information
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Product usage assumptions for the Energy Rating Label
To calculate the energy consumption on the Energy Rating Label, the following assumptions have been used.
- Televisions and computer monitors = 10 hours use plus 14 hours in standby per day.
- Fridges and freezers = in use 24 hours per day.
- Clothes dryers = 1 full load per week.
- Dishwashers = 7 uses per week, and standby.
- Clothes washers = 7 uses per week using a warm wash, and standby.
- Swimming pool pumps = pumping 50,000 litres of water per day.
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How do products get an Energy Rating Label?
A product is granted an Energy Rating Label when it is registered.
To be registered products must meet the requirements of the product’s Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards determination.
Download our simple guide on how to read the Energy Rating Label
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