You can read how much electricity an appliance uses on the energy label. It shows the consumption in kWh and an energy class from A to G. For fridges and freezers this is an annual consumption; for washing machines and dishwashers it is the consumption per 100 cycles. What you actually use also depends on how often and how you use the appliance.
How to read the energy label
Since 1 March 2021 the energy classes have run from A to G, without pluses, and the measurement method has also changed. The label shows the consumption in kWh and the energy class. At the top right there is a QR code that leads to the product information sheet in the European product database.
For fridges and freezers, the same label also shows a noise class from A to D. So alongside the consumption you can see straight away how quiet an appliance is. When comparing two appliances, don't just look at the letter but also at the number of kWh listed with it.
Appliances that are always on: look at the annual consumption
A fridge or freezer is on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That is why the label shows an annual consumption in kWh. A few examples from our range:
- The Salora MINICOOL43WH, a 43-litre mini fridge: 80 kWh a year, energy class E
- The COOLFREEZE47WH, a 93-litre table-top fridge: 107 kWh a year, energy class F
- The MINIFREEZE32WH, a 31-litre mini freezer: 147 kWh a year, energy class E
- The Salora FREEZER48WH, a 60-litre table-top freezer: 156 kWh a year, energy class E
- The COOLFREEZE48WH, an 80-litre table-top fridge with freezer compartment: 172 kWh a year, energy class F
You can see that the annual consumption depends not only on the capacity but also on what the appliance does. So choose an appliance that suits what you actually want to store.
Appliances you use per cycle: consumption per 100 cycles
For washing machines and dishwashers, since 2021 the label no longer shows consumption per year but per 100 cycles. How much you use per year therefore depends on how often you wash.
For washing machines, the energy class is based on the eco 40-60 programme. The Salora WASH6W has energy class D and uses 65 kWh per 100 washes. If you often run other programmes, your consumption will differ from the value on the label. If you wash with the eco programme, you come closest to what the label says.
Televisions: two energy classes
A television's label shows two energy classes: one for ordinary images (SDR) and one for HDR. HDR images demand more from the screen. The Salora 50QLEDTV has energy class E for SDR and G for HDR, with 54 kWh per 1000 hours in SDR and 101 kWh per 1000 hours in HDR.
Using appliances economically: what you can do yourself
Fridge and freezer. Give the appliance the ventilation space it needs, behind and above the cabinet. Choose a spot within the appliance's climate class, so the compressor can work normally.
Washing machine. Where possible, choose the eco 40-60 programme. With a delayed start (the WASH6W has one of up to 23 hours), you can run the wash at the time that suits you best, for example when your solar panels are generating electricity.
Dryer. Clean the lint filter after every cycle and wipe the moisture sensors. Laundry that has been spun well needs less drying time.
You can find more appliances with their consumption under cooling and freezing and under washing and drying.
Frequently asked questions
Can I compare an old energy label with a new label?
No. Because of the new measurement method, an appliance that used to be A+++ can now fall into a lower class without using more. So only compare appliances that both have the new label.
What is an EPREL number?
The registration number of an appliance in the European product database for energy labels. With it you can find the official label and the product information sheet. The QR code on the energy label also takes you to that number.
Does a freezer use more than a fridge without a freezer compartment?
Yes. Among the table-top models in our range, the fridges without a freezer compartment use 80 and 107 kWh a year, and the freezers 147 and 156 kWh a year.
Where can I find an appliance's consumption?
For the appliances in this article, the energy class, the consumption in kWh and the EPREL number are listed in the specifications on the product page.
