What will the EnergyGuide label tell me?
EnergyGuide labels for appliances contain three key pieces of information. First, the labels show the energy consumption or energy efficiency rating of the appliance, as determined from standard U.S. Department of Energy tests. Second, some labels include a “range of comparability” indicating the highest and lowest energy consumption of efficiencies for all similar models. Third, labels for most appliances must provide estimated annual operating cost. Manufacturers arrive at this estimate by basing their calculations on figures published by the U.S. Department of Energy. Remember, the EnergyGuide labels won’t tell you the best appliance to buy, but they do provide a lot of information to help you in your decision making. They also help consumers assess the trade-offs between the energy costs of their appliances and other expenditures. Make sure you compare similar models with similar capacities. For example, comparing one top-loading clothes washer with another top-loader that handles
