Fridge consumers are wiling to pay for high-star ratings. But what do they really mean?
So you’re in the market for a new appliance and all the mod cons are top of mind. The speeds, feeds, features and frills are getting you excited about your new TV or bar fridge. Energy consumption is nowhere near as interesting, but today’s energy prices are forcing you to look twice at how much power appliances consume.
Thankfully, mandatory energy rating labels make it easy to match up your desired features with a reasonable bill in your letterbox.
More is less
Let’s get one thing straight, more is less. When it comes to energy ratings the more stars your appliance has, the cheaper it is to run.
The red-and-yellow Energy Rating Label also includes an estimate of the average electricity use per year in kilowatt hours. It is an average because the actual figure will depend on how an appliance is used. Obviously the lower this number is, the better. Multiply the electricity usage by your supplier’s charge rate and you can see how much the appliance is costing you over the course of a year.
One star
One star appliances are the least efficient and most expensive to run. At the same electricity rate, a one star appliance can cost more than double that of a three star alternative. The golden rule with one star appliances is only buy them if they will be used infrequently, like a portable heater or air conditioner. Avoid one star ratings for appliances that will be used all the time like French Door Fridges.
Two stars
We’re improving with a two star energy rating. A quick calculation reveals a two star 40-inch 4K TV can cost on average $200 per year more than a three star model. Like one star products, you only want two star appliances if they won’t be used all the time. An important thing to note with TVs is the bigger they are the more energy they use. So even a comparatively efficient TV will cost you more the larger it is.
#HisenseHack: Big Hisense TV’s buck the energy star rating trend. The 75inch 4K ULED Series 7 TV features a 4.5 energy star rating.
Three stars
Three-star appliances are roughly the average energy rating on the scale of one to six. If you can get an appliance like clothes dryers and bar fridges in three stars you’re doing well.
#HisenseHack: The stunning French Door Fridge from Hisense recently won 2019/2020 Best French Door Fridge Range at the Finder Retail Awards.
Four stars
Now we’re getting the good end of the energy rating scale. Four-star appliances start saving you money compared to the average, especially if used regularly, like a 4K TV. For example, a four-star dishwasher can save $20 per year on your power bill compared to a lower-star model.
Five stars
Aim for new heights in environmental awareness with five-star appliances. Win with a five-star washing machine or TV. These are the types of appliances you want when they are used for long periods of time or on most days.
#HisenseHack: Check out our Hisense’s 453L Black Steel Refrigerator – 5.5 Energy Star Rating. No other AustralianRefrigerator has a higher Energy Star Rating.
Six stars and beyond
You’ve reached the top of the scale with a six-star energy rated appliance. A quick calculation reveals a six-star single door fridge can save more than $300 during 10 years of service compared with the average.
There is also a super-efficient rating of seven stars or more. This is great if you need an appliance to run all the time like a pool pump.
For more information on star ratings, please visit: https://www.energyrating.gov.au/
Australia
