What is the energy rating system?
The Australian government energy rating system was launched around 30 years ago to help purchasers understand how much energy a new appliance is likely to use, and how much it will increase your energy bills in the long run. Most appliances have a sticker displaying six red stars denoting their energy efficiency (the more coloured stars, the more efficient the product is). The stars tell us how energy efficient the appliance is compared with similar models in the same category.
Calculating your appliances’ energy consumption.
But it’s not all about the stars. Below the star rating is an energy consumption figure. Your washing machine, for instance, might tell you that it uses 420 kWh per year. To work out how much it’s likely to cost you, multiply the kilowatt-hours (kWh) by your electricity rate (this appears on your energy bill, but the average is around 25 cents). The washing machine in question, then, would cost you around $105 a year to run. A washing machine with a higher energy rating may cost you more cash upfront but consume less energy and therefore make more financial sense in the long term.
Consider upgrading to a higher energy rating.
It’s generally worth replacing and upgrading products with inefficient energy ratings, as the energy used to manufacture the new appliance will eventually be offset by the energy it saves. Also, some items (i.e. old refrigerators) become less energy-efficient over time. Ideally, we should use our appliances as infrequently as possible i.e. only putting on the washing machine and dishwasher when we have a full load, or line-drying our clothes on a warm day instead of putting them in the dryer. But when buying an appliance, paying attention to the energy rating will pay us and the planet dividends.