ILOILO City – The Department of Energy (DOE) urged consumers to check the energy efficiency ratings of appliances when they choose what units to buy.
In a breakout session which targeted the Ilonggo consumer sector during conference held here recently, Kristian Carlo Victorio, DOE science research specialist II, said buyers can check the yellow cards commonly seen with household appliances and lighting products.
“The number in the energy labels indicates the efficiency of product in terms of electricity consumption,” he said.
The higher the efficiency rating, the lower the energy consumption.
To reduce electricity bills from air conditioning devices, look for a high Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) when buying a new unit. EER refers to the cooling efficiency of the unit.
For refrigerators and freezers, the yellow energy guide bears the Energy Efficiency Factor (EEF) of the unit.
For lighting products, the energy label indicates the light output in lumens, power consumption, lamp efficacy and average life.
More lumens mean more light output and the higher the efficacy rating, the lower the energy consumption.
Victorio also emphasized the importance of energy labels, citing that consumers will patronize products that are certified and with higher efficiency rating.
“The products maintain or lower the consumption of electricity and these help the environment,” he added. (PIA-Iloilo/PN)
