EnerGuide Appliance Directory 2005

The EnerGuide Label

You're probably already familiar with the EnerGuide label, which has been in use for more than 25 years. By law, the label must be affixed to all new electrical appliances manufactured in or imported into Canada. It's important to remember that the label is not a "seal" of energy efficiency; it's a tool that lets you compare the energy consumption of similar appliances and determine how specific models measure up to the most energy-efficient appliances available. The label indicates the amount of electricity – measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year – used by an appliance. See "What's a kilowatt-hour?" for more information.

Energy use is determined according to standardized test procedures that manufacturers must apply. In fact, all manufacturers must abide by the Energy Efficiency Regulations of Canada's Energy Efficiency Act.

All appliances must be verified by a third-party verification agency in accordance with the Regulations to demonstrate that they meet Canada's minimum energy performance levels.

How to read the EnerGuide label

• The large number is an appliance's estimated annual energy consumption, which is measured in kWh per year.
• The shaded bar scale displays the energy-consumption range for appliance models of this type and size. The figure at the left end of the scale indicates the lowest energy-consumption rating; the figure on the right indicates the highest.
• An arrow just above the bar scale shows where the appliance ranks relative to similar models.

Changes to Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations

EnerGuide energy consumption figures are based on standards and testing procedures as set out in Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations. Some of these standards and procedures were amended in 2004. For example, new testing procedures introduced in 2004 for clothes washers and dishwashers resulted in revised minimum energy efficiency requirements – and therefore lower EnerGuide ratings – for both these appliance groups. Changes to consumer energy usage patterns also affected the new ratings. Planning is already under way for a new energy efficiency standard for clothes washers that is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2007. This new standard will require that all new clothes washers be approximately 20 percent more energy efficient than today's models.

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