Saving money on energy is a constant challenge for homeowners. In today’s economy, it seems the dollar just doesn’t go as far as we need it to. Fortunately, if you’re in the market for new HVAC equipment, the EnergyGuide Label will help you get optimal savings both at the cash register and in the long run.
You’ve probably seen the bright yellow EnergyGuide Label attached to refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, clothes washers and HVAC equipment, but do you really know why it’s there or what it means?
The label is affixed to these appliances by order of the federal government to give consumers valuable information about the cost to run a piece of equipment compared to similar items in the same category. (Appliances such as clothes dryers, kitchen ranges and microwave ovens are exempt due to the minor differences in energy consumption between models.) The information on the EnergyGuide Label is easy to read and understand once you know what it’s telling you.
The first piece of information the EnergyGuide Label provides is the type of product, the manufacturer’s name, model number, category, and some item-specific information (capacity, etc.).
The large, bold number in the center of the label tells the average yearly cost to operate the equipment. This cost is based on the average cost of energy (which is updated every five years), though it may actually be more or less in your utility service area. Underneath the cost figure is a sliding chart comparing the energy consumption with other models in the same class.
The estimated yearly electrical consumption is listed next (just below the sliding chart). This figure is particularly helpful in determining the life-cycle cost, because a lower-priced unit could end up costing more money to operate in the long run. If the product has Energy Star certification, that valued status also will be noted on the EnergyGuide label.
For more information about the EnergyGuide Label, contact the experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning– serving Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties for more than 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about the EnergyGuide Label and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Energy 1 Heating services the Lorain, OH area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area