Background to the Energy Label

Who operates the appliance Energy Rating label scheme?

The appliance energy rating label scheme is a joint initiative of the federal, state and territory governments.

What is the purpose of the Energy Rating labels?

When looking to buy an appliance many people compare the size, features, price and running costs of the appliance. The appliance Energy Rating label acts as an efficiency indicator - telling the potential buyer how energy efficient the product is and the amount of electricity used to run the appliance to allow a fair comparsion between products.

As reducing the demand for electricity production reduces greenhouse gas emissions, buyers who purchase a more energy efficient product will also contribute to the reduction of greenhouse pollution in Australia.

What appliances carry the Energy Rating label?

In Australia, most major categories of home appliances are required to carry an energy rating label, including:

refrigerators;
freezers;
dishwashers;
washing machines;
clothes dryers; and
air conditioners.

It is compulsory for manufacturers to put an Energy Rating label on every product.

What are the key features of the Energy Rating label?

The two key features of the Energy Rating label are that it:

Rates the energy efficiency of the appliance on a scale of one to six stars. The more stars, the more energy efficient it is. Efficient products use less electricity to achieve the same level of performance of similar models with the same size and capacity;
Tells you how much energy the appliance uses in kilowatt-hours when tested to the relevant Australian Standard.

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How are the Energy Ratings measured?

Manufacturers who produce / import appliances for the Australian market are required to submit their products to an approved testing agency. Testing is undertaken and the appliance's energy consumption and overall performance is determined. This testing information is used to calculate the appliance's hourly or annual kilowatt-hour (kWh) and its corresponding star rating. Appliances must also conform to any relevant performance requirements in the relevant Australian Standard before they can be granted an Energy Rating label.

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Why did the label need to change?

The energy label changed to a new design in 2000. The old Energy Rating label had been in use for about 14 years. Over that time continuous improvements in appliance performance caused star ratings to cluster at the top of the range. Changing the label design also included the introduction of a tougher standard for calculating star rating which provides a more meaningful guide to consumers and encourages manufacturers to keep improving the energy efficiency of appliances. The star ratings of all appliances are reviewed from time to time and the star rating formulae are changed as necessary.

This page last modified 27 June 2007