The EU energy label explained
Short answer
The EU energy label rates devices from A (most efficient) to G. Since 2021 the scale has been stricter, so a B or C today is often very good. The kWh figure on the label is the most useful number: multiply it by your electricity price to estimate the yearly running cost.
How to read it
The label shows the energy class, the yearly or per-cycle consumption in kWh, and product-specific information such as noise or capacity. A QR code links to the EPREL database with the full details.
- TVs: kWh per 1,000 hours in SDR and in HDR
- Washing machines: kWh per 100 cycles, water use, spin noise
- Fridges: kWh per year, volume, noise
Why few products are rated A
The rescaled labels left the top classes nearly empty on purpose, to leave room for future improvements. Most TVs land in classes E to G, and consumption in HDR is often higher than in SDR.
Estimating running costs
Example: a TV using 80 kWh per 1,000 hours, watched 4 hours a day, uses about 117 kWh a year. At €0.35 per kWh that is about €41 a year.
Questions and answers
Is an A-rated TV much cheaper to run?
Rarely worth paying much more for. The difference between classes on a TV is often only a few euros a year. Screen size and brightness settings matter more.
Where can I find the full product data?
Scan the QR code on the label. It leads to the EU's EPREL database with all measured values.