• Gabe Doran
  • 3 min read

Purchase the most energy-efficient products and save on costs and energy consumption

The temperatures have dipped and so have our spending habits. The cost-of-living crisis continues to hit home, with tough decisions to be made on what we spend on and how we can reduce our energy  use at home.

With the festive shopping season around the corner, we’re all keen to enjoy the buzz of shopping for friends and loved ones while also picking up some bargains on electrical products this Black Friday.

But how do we balance getting ready for all this spending against preparing for a costly winter when purse-strings are already pretty tight?

Energy Labels

One very straightforward way to be more cost and energy-conscious with our electricity use is by checking the label on our electrical products!

Yes, really.

This might sound mega-simplified or too obvious, but electrical products and appliances can really vary in their energy efficiency, so there’s a risk of a real drain on electricity consumption which leads to increased costs on your electricity bill.

The Energy Label, that appears on electrical appliances, will inform your general awareness around electricity use for the products you buy, so that you can make better spending decisions at the checkout and when shopping online.  

3 Good Reasons to Check the Energy Label

  1. Choosing energy efficient appliances will save you money on your energy bills
  2. The label is there to help you make an informed decision
  3. The label gives you the choice to purchase the most energy efficient appliance within your budget

How to read the new label

QR Code – this QR code gives access to more product info from the European database of energy labelled products

The A to G Scale – this scale shows the energy efficiency of the product, helping consumers to choose the best products on the market

Energy consumption – the energy consumption of the product in kWh per annum or 100 cycles

Icons – The icons show additional info including; product capacity, noise level, water consumption and program time

High energy-consuming appliances you should check

If you plan on buying any of the below new electrical appliances, you should check the energy label. These electrical products generally consume more energy than other appliances.

  • Electric showers
  • Tumble dryers
  • Wet goods
  • Fridges
  • Cookers/ovens
  • Kettles

So, get yourself fully ready to make the best energy and money-saving choices ahead of the festive shopping season and Black Friday this month – check the energy label, get to know the meanings and icons featured and save yourself real expense before you hit the physical or virtual check-outs!

For further information, visit the Energy Labelling section of SEAI.ie and also have a look at the video below for further info on the new EU energy label.

The Rescaled Energy Label

Many electrical products, such as washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, TVs and light bulbs have a rescaled energy label. All rescaled products have a lower energy efficiency class than before. For example, a fridge-freezer that was previously an A+++ may become a C after the rescaling, even though its energy actual consumption has not changed. The rescaled labels are easier to understand and ensure more better, more energy efficient products enter the market .

The new energy labels make it easier for us all, consumers and businesses alike, to choose the most energy efficient product within our respective budgets.

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Gabe Doran | Communications Content Specialist

Gabe is a Communications Content Specialist at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), where he writes about and develops content on individuals, communities and organisations working towards a cleaner energy future. Gabe also produces video, podcast and animation content for SEAI.

Previously Gabe has worked across areas of PR, Communications and Corporate Affairs at organisations including FleishmanHillard, Edelman and Aldi.

Originally from Belfast, Gabe has been living and working in Dublin since 2016 and has previously spent time in Brussels, Belgium, after graduating from his undergraduate degree at Queen’s University Belfast.

In Gabe’s downtime, he keeps busy with rowing, running and reading.

@GPDoran