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Energy Efficiency Ratings Explained: What the Stars Mean

Every fridge, heat pump and washing machine sold in New Zealand carries a star rating label — but most shoppers skim past it. Here's what it actually tells you, and how to use it to cut your power bill.

Twisti guides · Updated July 2026

What the star rating actually measures

New Zealand and Australia share the same Energy Rating Label scheme, run jointly under the E3 program. The label shows a star rating (generally from 1 to 6, with some efficient models now displaying up to 10 stars under the newer "super-efficient" scale for select categories) plus an estimated annual energy consumption figure in kWh. More stars means the appliance uses less energy to do the same job — it does not mean the appliance is more powerful or larger.

Crucially, star ratings are only comparable within the same appliance type and similar size category. A 4-star small bar fridge and a 4-star large family fridge are not using the same amount of power — the kWh/year figure underneath the stars is what lets you compare running costs properly.

Where you'll see it in NZ

The label is mandatory on new fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, clothes dryers, air conditioners and heat pumps sold here. Televisions dropped out of the mandatory scheme some years back, so you won't always see a rating sticker on TVs at retailers like Noel Leeming or Harvey Norman — check the product spec sheet instead if energy use matters to you.

Fridges and freezers: almost always labelled, and running 24/7 makes the rating genuinely significant to your power bill.
Heat pumps and air conditioners: labelled with both heating and cooling efficiency figures — worth checking both if you use it year-round.
Washing machines and dryers: dryers in particular vary hugely between heat-pump and vented models, so the star rating gap can be large.

Heat pump dryer vs vented dryer

Heat pump condenser dryers typically carry noticeably higher star ratings than older-style vented dryers, because they recycle heat rather than exhausting it outside. They usually cost more upfront but the running-cost difference can be substantial over a few years — check the estimated annual kWh figure on the label rather than relying on stars alone when comparing across brands.

Turning stars into actual dollars

The label's annual kWh estimate is based on a standardised usage pattern, so your real bill will vary with household size, settings and how often you actually run the appliance. To get a rough dollar estimate, multiply the labelled kWh/year by your power provider's per-kWh rate. This won't be exact, but it's a reasonable way to compare two specific models side by side before you buy.

It's also worth remembering that a cheaper appliance with a lower star rating can still work out more expensive over its lifetime once you factor in years of running costs. This is especially true for fridges and heat pumps, which run for long stretches or continuously.

Tip: When comparing two similarly priced fridges with different star ratings, ask the retailer for the annual kWh figure rather than just the stars — it's the number that maps directly to your power bill.

What actually changes the rating

Insulation quality, compressor and motor efficiency, and features like sensor-based load detection (in washing machines and dishwashers) tend to drive most of the difference between star ratings within a category. Size also matters: a larger fridge will generally use more total energy than a smaller one even at the same star rating, since the rating reflects efficiency per size class, not absolute consumption.

When you're comparing listings on Twisti across retailers, it's worth checking the product page or manufacturer spec sheet for the star rating and annual kWh figure directly, since not every retailer displays it prominently in the listing itself.