All major home appliances must meet the Appliance Standards Program set by the US Department of Energy (DOE). Manufacturers must use standard test procedures developed by DOE to prove the energy use and efficiency of their products. Test results are printed on yellow Energy Guide labels (pictured below) which manufacturers are required to display on many appliances. This label provides the necessary information to perform a Life Cycle Analysis when comparing different models.
Instructions: View detailed descriptions about the information found on Energy Guide labels.
Energy Guide Labels.
The image is a yellow rectangular energy guide label with black text, used to provide energy efficiency information. At the top, it features the heading "ENERGYGUIDE" with an arrow pointing downward, indicating important information about energy use. Below this are two sections: on the left, details such as “Refrigerator-Freezer,” “Automatic Defrost,” “Side-Mounted Freezer,” and “Through-the-Door Ice” are listed; on the right, “XYZ Corporation - Model ABC-L,” “Capacity: 23 Cubic Feet” is specified. In the center, a highlighted section titled “Estimated Yearly Operating Cost” shows a large bold figure of "$67," representing the annual cost. Below, a horizontal bar labeled “Cost Range of Similar Models” shows arange from $57 to $74. Below this section, “630 kWh Estimated Yearly Electricity Use” is prominently marked in bold with a white background. Additional notes surround the main content, explaining the details of the cost estimates, the significance of the cost range, and utility rates. A small ENERGY STAR logo is in the bottom right, indicating environmental benefits. Black dotted lines and text boxes aid in navigating the information.
The Federal Trade Commission's Appliance Labeling Rule requires appliance manufacturers to put these labels on refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, water heaters, furnaces, boilers, central air conditioners, room air conditioners, heat pumps, and pool heaters. The law requires that the labels specify:
- the capacity of the particular model—for refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, and water heaters;
- the energy efficiency rating and the estimated annual energy consumption of the model—for air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, and pool heaters;
- the range of estimated annual energy consumption, or energy efficiency ratings, of comparable appliances.
How to Use the Labels
A worksheet on how to use the labels in choosing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly appliance is given below.
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| 1. Are the appliances comparable in size and features? | Answer has to be yes |
| 2. What is the price of the more energy- efficient model? | $ ________ |
| 3. What is the price of the less energy-efficient model? | $ ________ |
| 4. What is the price of electricity in your region? | $ ________ / kWh |
| 5. How long do you expect to keep the appliance? What is the life of the Appliance? | ________ |
We will discuss more about using the Energy Guide labels when we cover Life Cycle Cost Analysis later in this lesson.