Check What Is Printed on the Energy Efficiency Grade Label
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Key Takeaway
Label grades run from 1 to 5, and a lower number means higher efficiency. The label also shows power consumption, CO2 emissions, and annual (monthly) energy cost. Check the manufacturing date too, since grades can shift.
How do you read the grade number?
The energy efficiency grade label shows an appliance's energy efficiency divided from grade 1 to grade 5. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, a smaller number means higher efficiency, and grade 1 saves 30 to 40% more energy than grade 5.
What is on the label besides the grade?
Besides the grade, there are items you can read on the label and in the product search. What you can confirm from the Ministry's notice and the Korea Energy Agency's product search is as follows.
| Item | What you can confirm on the label or in the lookup |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency grade | Grades 1 to 5 |
| Power consumption | The energy the product uses |
| Carbon dioxide emissions | Shown on the label |
| Annual (monthly) energy cost | Shown on the label |
| Capacity | Can be compared in the Korea Energy Agency product search |
Can the same grade still differ?
Yes, it can differ by manufacturing date. The 2018 notice says that the efficiency grade standards were tightened for 7 items such as TVs in 2017 and for 4 items such as refrigerators in the first half of 2018. When the standard rises, even the same product can get a different grade depending on when it was made.
The Korea Energy Agency's product search screen also carries two notes.
- Because of measurement method changes and tightened standards, the efficiency grade and efficiency of a product can differ by its manufacturing date.
- For company reasons, a lower efficiency or grade than the first reported measurement result of the product may be shown on the product label.
Where do you check before buying?
Check in the Korea Energy Agency's Energy Efficiency Management System product search. You can search products reported under the energy efficiency grade labeling system, and the agency tells you to check and compare each product's grade, power consumption, capacity, carbon dioxide emissions, and annual energy cost.
- Look up the grade and power consumption in the product search using the model name of the product you want.
- Check that the grade on the product's label matches the lookup result, and look at the manufacturing date as well.
- For products with different capacities, look at power consumption and capacity together.
- In the end, compare the power consumption numbers directly rather than the grade number.
Product information
Candidates compared
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LG DIOS Objet Collection Refrigerator S834MEE111
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LG Tromm Washing Machine F21WDLPR
Check price and stock at the link. Product information is as of the date checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
If two products are both grade 1, are they equally efficient?
Not necessarily. The Korea Energy Agency says that because of measurement method changes and tightened standards, the efficiency grade and efficiency can differ by manufacturing date. Look at the manufacturing date and the power consumption together.
Can the value on the label differ from the reported value?
The Korea Energy Agency says that, for company reasons, a lower efficiency or grade than the first reported measurement result may be shown on the product label. This is written on the basis of Article 15, Paragraph 1 of the Operating Rules for Energy Efficiency Management Equipment.
Where do I compare products one by one?
In the Korea Energy Agency's Energy Efficiency Management System product search, you can check and compare the grade, power consumption, capacity, carbon dioxide emissions, and annual energy cost of products reported under the energy efficiency grade labeling system.
Sources & Verification Date
- Understanding Energy Efficiency Grades Properly (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea Policy Briefing 2018-10-04) · Verified
- Energy Efficiency Management System: Product Search (Korea Energy Agency) · Verified
- Efficiency Grade System: Product Search Guide (Korea Energy Agency) · Verified
All materials have been verified from official announcements and may have changed since verification.