/ ECO labels and washing machines
ECO labels give the following information -
- Noise levels (not compulsory, so sometimes missing)
- Energy efficiency
- Energy consumption
- Washing performance
- Spin drying performance
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 ultimately outweigh the benefits can be obscured or even ignored.
When first introduced, the eco labels were an eye opener and showed differences in performance and energy usage between various makes of washing machine. After being in operation for some years though, it seems almost every washing machine has an "A" wash rating, and even the worst washing machine I can think of boasts 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 are 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
- They don't take into account other environmental issues such as country of origin and environmental impact through production methods
- The ECO labels can mislead the public into thinking a poor quality washing machine with an A rating is a good buy when it clearly is not
- 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++ 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.
Noise level rating
This part of the label can be useful, but it's not compulsory, so many washing machine ECO labels are blank here. If it's blank though, the chances are the manufacturer isn't particularly proud of how quiet their washing machine is.
Energy consumption
Here you can find out the cost in electricity charges that the washing machine is likely to use per year. But what if you compare two washing machines, and one costs £5 per year more to run than the other? Does that mean the cheaper-to-run one is a better buy? You may instinctively choose the “cheapest” to run, but the "more economical" washing machine could also be far less reliable. There's little point saving £5 a year in running costs if the washing machine breaks down more often, is more expensive to repair, and needs replacing quicker.
Because the energy efficiency ratings don't take anything else into account, they can, and should only, be used as a very small part of the buying decision. Yet because proper buying decisions are so complex and difficult to work out, it's easy to rely on these labels too much. What if you choose the cheaper-to-run washing machine because of environmental concerns, but this washing machine damages the environment far more than the other because of the way it's manufactured, the distance it has travelled round the world, its unreliability and its lack of longevity?
How much money would you save if you replaced an old washing machine (bought in 1995) with one of the new, "A" rated energy saving recommended models of similar size?
According to the Energy Saving Trust, you would only save (up to) *£8 per year (source: Energy saving assumptions ). This seems surprisingly low. I would have expected much more savings than that. If this is true, then surely the difference between a current A rated washing machine and a B, or C, should be negligible? Savings are good to pursue, but small savings like this shouldn't influence complex buying decisions too much.
* The £8 per year savings quoted are relevant only for washing machines. Other appliances (such as freezers) may have greater savings differences between grade levels and greater annual running cost savings. The above link also lists estimated potential savings for other appliances, as well as for various home insulation projects.
How much money would you save if you bought a washing machine that had an energy efficiency rating of A instead of one that was B rated?
According to Which? it's just £5.20 a year (5 washes a week). When comparing an A rating with a C rating the savings almost reaches £10 a year. These savings aren't that significant if you end up with an unreliable washing machine that doesn't last long. Over a several year period the savings start to add up but they can still be easily wiped out with just one repair. Watch out for washing machines with lower than C rating though as there are still a handful of really poor ones available. My point is that a cheap A rated washing machine is a bad buy, and the energy savings over a higher quality but B rated washing machine are worthless.
Wash efficiency
- This test is done on a 60 degrees wash, but the majority of people in the UK rarely use this wash programme.
- The impression consumers get is that the wash efficiency rating applies to the washing machine itself, but it could be just one programme, the rest could be less efficient. All a washing machine manufacturer has to do to get an "A" wash efficiency rating, is ensure that their 60 degrees wash cycle passes the test. This could be achieved by simply making it wash much longer, maybe unrealistically longer. If the 40 degrees wash cycle that most people use is not tested it's therefore possible for a poor performing washing machine to pass the 60 degree test.
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 have 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", 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 not be happy to leave their dryer running for 8 hours.
Summary:
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 because they do not take into consideration other aspects of an appliance that can easily, and considerably, outweigh the benefits of slightly lower energy costs or slightly better performance. Besides, the vast majority of washing machines are now rated A because manufacturers have made sure they do by hook or by crook.
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. 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)
( Related: washing machine reviews (including Washerhelp recommended washing machines) )
