Buying a new Washing Machine? Have you checked the energy efficiency rating?

Buying a new Washing Machine? Have you checked the energy efficiency rating?

So you’re out at the local home appliance superstore looking for a new washing machine. You have walked up and down each row of gleaming machines several times, opened and closed a few doors, admired the colours and finishes and finally chosen one you think will match your tumble dryer. But did you check the EU energy efficiency label on any of the candidates?

No? Funnily enough, you’re not alone – lots of people pick a machine based on appearance without considering the energy efficiency ratings. Unfortunately this could be a costly mistake.

What are washing machine energy efficiency ratings?

Most home appliances are now required under European Union law to carry an efficiency rating label. The idea is that buyers should have some idea of exactly how efficient a particular appliance is compared to other similar units.

As you walked around the appliance superstore, did you notice the labels attached to the front of each? Usually right next to the price tag you will find a second label with some brightly coloured stripes – this is the EU efficiency rating info.

On closer inspection you will see that each washing machine has been assigned a letter between “A+++” and “G”. This letter defines just how energy efficient that device is in relation to all the other washing machines available. As you would expect “A+++” is the most efficient and “G” the least.

Energy efficiency experts working for the EU assign each machine a rating based on how much electricity is used per kilogram of washing during a standard 60 degree wash. The less electricity used, the higher the rating earned.

These ratings are only useful for comparison of washing machines though because the same tests cannot be applied to other appliances. After all, fridge freezers don’t have any wash cycle!

Why does having an energy efficient washing machine matter to me?

So why should you pay any attention to the EU energy efficiency rating as you trawl around the appliance warehouse or online store? Because the more efficient your washing machine is, the cheaper it is to run.

This means that over time, an “A+++” rated washing machine may actually work out cheaper than a “C” rated unit, even if it costs more to buy in the first place. The cost of electricity continues to climb, so a washing machine that uses less, is actually saving you money in the long term. Probably even more than the original difference in price between the two washing machine models.

Will I have to trade useful functions for energy efficiency?

Always bear in mind that although standard washing machine and combination washer dryer may have the same energy efficiency rating, they may still use different amounts of energy, meaning that one may still be more expensive than the other. You should also check the EU efficiency data for details of the energy consumption rates – it will show a number relating to kWh/cycle, the amount of electricity used each time you complete a wash. The lower the number, the better.

If costs are the main deciding factor in your choice of washing machine, you need to carefully balance the initial cost of the washing machine against the longer term costs. The EU efficiency rating data can help you decide which is more important. If you find two washing machines at a similar price, size and colour, then the energy efficiency rating could be the final deciding factor in your purchasing decision.

So next time you are looking for a washing machine, make sure you pay close attention to the EU energy efficiency label on the front of each unit– it could save you quite a bit of cash in the long term!

A natural born writer, Stacey Barton writes professionally and for fun across a wide range of niches with particular attention to how classic brands can continue to offer the same product for decades and somehow survive the turbulent and ever changing consumer market.