Are energy labels on Washing Machines misleading?

This is part two of my energy labels topic. What do the new energy labels mean? focuses more on what the energy labels say and how to use the information.

I personally don't attach too much importance to the eco labels on washing machines. These labels have been very useful in encouraging washing machine manufacturers and customers to focus on reducing energy usage and increasing wash performance. However, as with all such incentives (or targets) an obsession with achieving them can end up being detrimental to the original intentions.

This is because long term consequences that can ultimately outweigh the original benefit-goals can be obscured or even ignored - as long as the targets are met. We see this all the time when for example the original goal of improving crime results by the police can be undermined by giving them targets forcing them to do so many arrests each week. They just end up arresting us all for minor petty offences and ignoring the more serious ones but the figures show arrests are up. Or when in an attempt to reduce the amount of time people are waiting for operations hospitals are given targets that end up being fiddled at the cost of worse patient care for many (they just create more waiting lists and move people to another list where the time starts all over again). In my experience many targets end up undermining or making worse the original targets.

When first introduced, the eco labels were an eye opener and showed up big differences in performance and energy usage between various makes of washing machine. However, after being in operation for just a few years almost every washing machine now has an "A" wash rating, and even the worst washing machine I can think of can boast a AAA rating. I believe the current ECO labels on washing machines have lost much of their real value, and could do with a reappraisal. They did a good job but are now too simplistic and potentially misleading for the following reasons –

The ECO labels don't take into account other far more important running-cost considerations such as repairs and longevity so they give the impression that an AAA rated washing machine is a good buy when it could be one of the least reliable and short-lived washing machine available
They don't take into account other environmental issues such as country of origin and environmental impact through production methods such as how recyclable the washing machine is
The ECO labels can mislead the public into thinking a poor quality washing machine with an A energy rating is good for the environment when many washing machines are not because they need replacing far too soon due to the way they are manufactured and the sometimes extortionate cost of their spare parts
The wash efficiency test is carried out on only one wash programme (ironically) one of the highest and least energy efficient washes at 60 degrees - that few people use
Almost all washing machines now achieve A ratings so they've become virtually meaningless. The addition of a new category A+ was created to differentiate between the best of the A rated washing machines, and when that wasn't enough the further addition of A++ (for fridges) had to be introduced for one category. We can't keep adding +'s. It might be better to use numbers, with the highest being the best, that way the numbers can increase indefinitely as efficiencies improve. Something like A1, A2, A3 - B1, B2 etc. could give better room for expansion than just adding a + sign.
Some budget washing machines these days appear to achieve the A rating by making the test wash program wash for considerably longer than it used to. People aren't realising that many of the new washing machines are taking a ridiculous amount of time to wash in order to get these ratings. This can lead to people using many of the options that cut down the wash times and to select lower temperatures in order to speed wash times up, with the potential consequences of sludge and grease building up inside the washing machine causing nasty smells and shortening the life of the washing machine. [ Related advice: Causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machine ]
These days washing machines are designed to get the best ratings. As the eco labels do not take account of reliability, build quality or longevity, rubbish washing machines can easily get the same A ratings as the best washing machines available. The public can see no difference between a £200 washing machine and a £700 washing machine using the energy labels

Further information: Washerhelp's in-depth analysis of how to use ECO energy labels on washing machines | Reducing energy costs of washing machines & other appliances

Continued on next column

The main article begins on the left column

Example of "A" rated madness?

Here's an example of how crazy things can get when manufacturers try to achieve awards for ratings that may convince customers to buy, and how potentially misleading it can be. Crosslee announced the launch of, “the first A rated tumble dryer in Britain”. This sounds good, but the tumble dryer is really a C class tumble dryer unless you use the dryer's special A rated programme –

"Select the 'Low Energy' button. Users are then able to make use of the A Class programme. This runs for approximately 8 hours, (my emphasis) and can be used any time of the day or night. By de-selecting the 'Low Energy' button, users are able to make use of the faster programme, which is C Energy Efficiency Rated. This runs for approximately 120 minutes and can be used when time is of the essence."

People buying this tumble dryer, specifically attracted by its, "A energy efficiency rating", may be unaware they will have to leave the dryer running for 8 hours per load to use it as an A rated appliance. I can't help wondering how much of the potential energy savings in running costs could be counteracted by extra breakdowns and by potentially having to replace a worn out dryer before you normally would.

I'm making an assumption here that a machine that would normally run for between 50 minutes to a couple of hours per load, suddenly taking 8 hours, could potentially break down more often, and wear out quicker. To be fair to Crosslee, they haven't tried to hide the 8 hour program time, but I imagine it could be an attractive buying-hook to people not well enough informed. I expect most people would assume the dryer is a normal dryer that's just more efficient than all other dryers. But most would probably not be happy to leave their dryer running for 8 hours per load.

Summary:

The difference in running costs between an A rated energy efficiency washing machine and a B or even C is smaller than most people would assume. These savings are not to be sniffed at, but can be pointless if the washing machine is not very good on other fronts - and many fall into that category.

What's the point of buying a washing machine with top marks in the eco labels if it's only likely to last several years and then be scrapped? Even a CCC rated washing machine would be a much better buy for you and the environment if it lasted much longer and broke down less often. Energy efficiency labels are just a small part of a complex buying decision. Personally, I wouldn't discount them altogether, but I wouldn't take too much notice of them either. Besides, the vast majority of washing machines are now rated A because manufacturers have made sure they do, however, all A rated machines are not necessarily equal.

It is just as important to choose a good quality and reliable washing machine that will last many years, and can be easily or economically repaired when required.

These days you can same more money by simply switching energy suppliers as described here Reducing energy costs of washing machines & other appliances

A very useful addition to the ECO labels would be -

Average life expectancy (in years)
Repairability (rating according to how viable and economical future repairs could be)
Recycle rating (how recyclable the washing machine is)

Add your comment?

These last points are expanded a little in my Eco-labels suggestion (White goods Blog article) This article also allows you to add any comment on the eco energy labels topic.

What do the new energy labels mean? (part one of the energy labels topic)

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