Home appliances: compare label and cost of use

1. From location and use

Measure the location, passages and clearances required to open the door. Also take up the available connections and installation requirements of the manufacturer. For a built-in appliance, the niche and facade dimensions require specific control. Choose the capacity according to your actual use: a large appliance is not automatically more economical for a small fireplace. Before comparing promotions, eliminate models that cannot be properly installed or delivered to the intended room.

• Dimensions and access measured.
• Compatible connections.
• Home-adapted capacity.

2. Read label data

The energy label gives specific benchmarks for the product family, including the class and a consumption expressed according to a protocol. The QR code allows you to find the information recorded in the European database EPREL. Also compare the capacity, water or noise when these data are present. The letter alone does not allow you to compare any devices: bring together similar size and function models. Copy the numbers and their unit rather than rely solely on the color of the label.

• Exact model identified.
• Consumption and unit copied.
• Product sheet consulted.

3. Estimate a cost with its assumptions

Educational example, without a commercial tariff: to 0,25 € per kWh, one device consuming 150 kWh per year represents 37,50 € for annual electricity; a 200 kWh represents 50 €. The difference is therefore of 12,50 € per year, i.e. 62,50 In five years if consumption and price remain constant, this calculation excludes water, maintenance and price variations. 100 cycles, adjust the number of cycles to your home before multiplying by the price of kWh.

• Assumptions and written period.
• Consistency units.
• Energy distinguished from other expenditures.

4. Compare delivery and post-purchase

Ask what the delivery covers: door threshold, floor, use part or connection. Check if the old equipment is taken over, the necessary accessories and the cost of an additional passage. Find consumables, access to filters and repair information. A still usable device should not be replaced on the sole basis of an energy classification: first have the need or failure examined. Upon receipt, check the packaging, reference and parts before discarding the documents.

• Delivery level specified.
• Confirmed accessories and recovery.
• Maintenance and repair studied.

5. Moving from cycles to an annual expenditure

The label of the washing machine gives kWh for 100 eco cycles 40-60. Fictitious example: 50 kWh/100 cycles and 180 cycles per year represent 50 × 180 Φ 100 = 90 kWh/year. 0,25 €/kWh, that gives 22,50 € annual electricity, excluding water and laundry. Do not multiply 50 directly by 180 : you would forget the basis of 100 To compare two machines, keep the same number of cycles and examine their capacity; a machine too small may require you to multiply the laundry.

• Unit of label retained.
• Estimated annual number of cycles.
• Comparable capacity and program.

Fictional example · No merchant prices

A more expensive washing machine can cost less over five years

Fictional example: two washing machines of equal capacity cost €450 and €520 including delivery. For the same reference programme, A uses 150 kWh per 100 cycles and B 100 kWh per 100 cycles. At 220 cycles a year for five years and a constant €0.25/kWh, their theoretical consumption is 1,650 and 1,100 kWh. Purchase plus electricity totals €862.50 for A and €795 for B. Water, detergent, maintenance and repairs are excluded.

• Compare equal capacities and the same programme, keeping the unit per 100 cycles.
• Adapt annual cycles to your household and the kWh price to your contract.
• Recalculate if the tariff, usage or repair costs change.

Compare purchase and electricity