Start by checking the condition and use of your appliances. Replacing a working appliance just to get a better energy rating does not guarantee a worthwhile saving for your household. To compare models, look at kWh/year for fridges and freezers, and kWh/100 eco cycles for dishwashers. Then consider capacity, how you actually use the appliance, whether it can be repaired and, for dishwashers, water use and programme duration.
You want to know whether your fridge or fridge-freezer is due for replacement and compare annual energy use for suitable capacities. The European Commission says that fridge and freezer energy labels show kWh/year and the volume of each compartment.
You’re choosing between a fridge, a fridge-freezer or an additional freezer because your needs for fresh and frozen food differ. Compare the capacity you’ll actually use and check that the configuration fits your available space.
You want to relate the eco programme figures to how often you run the dishwasher, without overlooking water use, capacity and cycle duration. The European Commission explains that a dishwasher’s energy label includes energy use per 100 eco cycles, water use per cycle and programme duration.
Start with what you need the appliance to do, then compare models with the right function and capacity. Energy label figures let you compare appliances under defined conditions; on their own, they cannot predict your household’s energy use.
| What matters | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use for refrigeration | Check the kWh/year and compartment capacities. Compare appliances with a relevant configuration and capacity. | If I’m wondering whether my current fridge or fridge-freezer needs replacing, I’ll start by comparing its energy needs and condition with those of an equivalent model. Around 33% of consumers prioritise the energy use of their fridge or freezer. |
| Storage capacity | Check the litres allocated to fresh and frozen food separately, as well as the appliance’s dimensions and installation type. | If my needs for fresh and frozen food change, I want to choose a configuration without adding unnecessary capacity. Around 27% of consumers prioritise getting the right amount of storage. |
| Dishwasher cycles | Compare kWh/100 eco cycles, litres per cycle, duration, capacity and how many cycles you actually run. | If I run the dishwasher often, I’ll consider energy use per cycle and the programme I actually use. Around 20% of consumers give priority to the cost of their dishwasher cycles. |
| Keeping or repairing an appliance | Check the appliance’s condition, ask for a diagnosis if it has a fault, and compare the repair quote with the total cost of replacing it. | If my appliance still works or looks repairable, I want to compare my options before replacing it. Around 20% of consumers prioritise keeping or repairing their appliance. |
To estimate running costs, multiply a fridge or freezer’s kWh/year by your electricity rate per kWh. For a dishwasher, use the kWh/100 eco cycles, your annual number of eco cycles and the same rate. These calculations depend on your habits: other programmes, water use and the purchase price are not included.
These figures cover different periods and are based on different types of use. A direct comparison therefore cannot tell you which appliance accounts for more of your energy use.
Calculate the cost for each appliance using its energy label unit, your electricity rate and how you use it. For a dishwasher, only use the eco programme as your reference if you actually run it.
An oversized appliance, poorly divided capacity or an additional appliance may not suit your needs. For refrigeration, annual energy use alone is not enough to tell you whether a model is a suitable replacement for your current appliance.
First work out the capacity you need for fresh and frozen food, then compare the kWh/year, dimensions and configurations of appliances that meet those needs.
An unnecessary appliance or excess capacity can also take up more space and affect everyday use.
An estimate based on a particular electricity rate may not reflect your tariff or the energy use of your old appliance.
Recalculate using your current rate and, if possible, the figures for your existing appliance. Don’t assume you’ll make a saving until you’ve compared them.
Buying new is not automatically better than keeping or repairing an appliance. With a fridge or freezer, any decision should also ensure that food can be stored at a suitable temperature.
Check the appliance’s condition and, if it has a fault, ask for a diagnosis and a quote. Anses recommends a temperature of 0 to +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge.
You may also need to consider the practicalities of installing a new appliance.
The documented models include a single-door fridge without a freezer compartment and a freestanding dishwasher.
The documented models let you compare a freestanding fridge-freezer and a dishwasher.
The documented model is a compact built-in freezer. Consider it if it suits your space and offers enough capacity.
The documented models include a single-door fridge and a freestanding freezer.
This selection brings together built-in dishwashers and fridge-freezers, so you can compare the capacities and energy-use figures listed for these types of appliance.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a built-in model for your usual loads of 13 place settings.
Listed width: 60 cm. The product information specifies installation by a qualified professional.
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Consider this if you’re looking for a built-in dishwasher for your usual loads of 13 place settings.
Listed energy rating: B. Width: 60 cm. The product information specifies installation by a qualified professional.
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Worth comparing if you want to keep fresh and frozen food in one freestanding appliance.
Listed total capacity: 360 L, split between 235 L for the fridge and 125 L for the freezer. The product information lists 271 kWh/year and an energy rating of E.
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Worth comparing if you need a freestanding fridge-freezer with separate capacity for fresh and frozen food.
Listed capacity: 336 L, including 238 L for the fridge and 98 L for the freezer. The product information lists 135 kWh/year and an energy rating of B.
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Worth comparing if you need a large capacity and separate storage areas for fresh and frozen food.
Listed total capacity: 606 L, with 390 L for the fridge and freezer compartments or zones with variable temperatures. The product information lists 320 kWh/year and an energy rating of E. The door is not reversible.
For a fridge or freezer, multiply the kWh/year on the energy label by your electricity rate per kWh. For a dishwasher, multiply the kWh/100 eco cycles by your annual number of eco cycles divided by 100, then multiply by the same rate. This calculation excludes other programmes, water use and the purchase price.
Don’t compromise food safety in the hope of making a saving. Anses recommends a temperature between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge and advises checking it regularly, for example with a thermometer.
No. The dishwasher energy label gives the kWh for 100 cycles of the eco programme. It also shows information such as water use per cycle and the duration of that programme. If you use other programmes, don’t assume this figure applies to your actual energy use.
Ask for a diagnosis and a quote, then check which warranty applies before comparing repair with replacement. In France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity covers, subject to its conditions, faults that appear within two years of receiving goods bought from a professional seller.
For new products covered by energy labelling rules, the label must be displayed at the point of sale, including online. Free ‘one-for-one’ take-back applies, subject to the relevant conditions, to an old product of the same type and quantity as the product being replaced. Check the arrangements when you place your order.
Don’t assume that this type of index applies to these categories. The Ministry for Ecological Transition describes its mandatory introduction for televisions and washing machines, not fridges or dishwashers. For the latter, check the information specific to each model and whether it can be repaired.