What to Look for on the ENERGY STAR Label
Once you locate the ENERGY STAR label you need to decipher the information. Below is a breakdown of what’s on the EnergyGuide label and why it’s important to know.
Features That Influence Energy Use – Top Left hand Corner
Up at the top in the left hand corner you’ll see a bullet list with three key features that affect the energy use of the product.
Product Description – Top Right Hand Corner
In the top right hand is all of the specific product information. You’ll see the manufacturer, the product model and the size of the product.
Energy Comparison to Similar Standard Products – Middle of the Label
The EnergyGuide label will also give you an energy use comparison so you can see how much energy is saved compared to using a non-ENERGY STAR product. You’ll actually see a cost range for similar models ranging from the lowest to the highest annual cost. If the ENERGY STAR product costs more this will give you an idea of how quickly you can make up the cost difference.
Estimated Yearly Operating Cost – Middle of the Label
This will give you a good idea of how much it costs to operate a product based on the energy use. Keep in mind this isn’t exact. The estimate is based on regular use of the product and the national average price per kilowatt-hour (kWh). To get a more accurate estimate of the annual cost you can use the kWh rate for your energy plan.
Kilowatt-Hour Use – Bottom Left Hand Corner
The label will also show the estimated annual electricity use in kilowatt-hours. This estimate is based on regular use. Take this estimate and multiply it by the cost per kWh on your energy plan to get a more accurate idea of the annual costs to operate the product.
ENERGY STAR Logo – Bottom Right Hand Corner
You can verify the authenticity of the label by looking for the ENERGY STAR logo in the bottom right hand corner. If you read your energy bill as closely as the EnergyGuide label you may find your kWh rate could be better. Spark Energy offers fixed rate energy plans that make estimating monthly costs more predictable. See how much your annual cost of use would be based on electricity rates from Spark Energy.
