Energy-Efficient Appliances in Spain: What to Look for Before You Buy

Buying a new refrigerator, washing machine or dishwasher is about much more than choosing the right size and comparing prices. The appliance you choose can remain in your home for many years, meaning its electricity and water consumption can have a significant influence on its total cost over its lifetime.

For homeowners in Spain, this is particularly relevant when trying to reduce household electricity consumption. Choosing efficient appliances can complement other improvements such as better insulation, efficient air conditioning, smart energy management and solar self-consumption.

The European energy label makes comparing appliances considerably easier. However, looking only at whether a product has an A, B or C rating does not tell you everything you need to know.

The actual energy consumption, capacity, water use, noise level and the way you intend to use the appliance are also important. So, what should you actually look for when buying an energy-efficient appliance?

 

Understanding the EU energy label

 

If you have not purchased an appliance for several years, today’s energy labels may look different from the ones you remember. The European Union has progressively returned to a simpler A-to-G energy efficiency scale, replacing the previous system that included ratings such as A+, A++ and A+++ for the product groups that have been rescaled.

On the current scale, A represents the highest efficiency class and G the lowest. The change does not necessarily mean that an appliance that previously had an A+++ rating suddenly became inefficient. The scale was redesigned partly because technological improvements had resulted in many products accumulating in the highest categories, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to distinguish between them. 

There is another important detail: a B-rated appliance today can still be highly efficient. When the new labels were introduced, the criteria were deliberately made more demanding, leaving room at the top of the scale for future technological improvements.

This is why you should never compare a current B or C rating directly with an old A+, A++ or A+++ label. Instead, compare products using the current label and look beyond the letter itself.

 

Look at actual electricity consumption, not just the letter

 

The efficiency class is useful for quickly comparing products, but the electricity consumption figure provides more practical information. 

For example, current EU washing-machine labels show electricity consumption per 100 cycles using the Eco 40-60 programme. Dishwasher labels also show consumption per 100 eco cycles.

This allows you to compare two appliances with a clearer understanding of how much electricity they are expected to use under standardised test conditions. 

Imagine you are comparing two similar washing machines. One uses 45 kWh per 100 cycles and another uses 55 kWh. The difference may initially seem small, but it accumulates over hundreds of washes and several years of ownership.

However, these figures should be treated as standardised comparison tools rather than a guarantee of exactly what you will consume at home. Your actual electricity use will depend on factors such as the programmes selected, temperature, frequency of use and how fully you load the appliance.

 

Bigger is not always better

 

One of the easiest mistakes to make is buying more capacity than you actually need. A large refrigerator may look attractive in the showroom, but if you live alone or spend only part of the year at your property in Spain, you may be paying to operate capacity you rarely use.

The same principle applies to washing machines and dishwashers. A household of two people may have very different requirements from a family of five. Holiday homes can have different requirements again.

This is why efficiency should always be considered together with capacity. An appliance can have an excellent efficiency rating for its category while still consuming more electricity overall than a smaller model that adequately meets your needs.

Rather than asking only, “Which appliance has the best energy rating?”, ask: what is the most efficient appliance that is appropriately sized for my household? That question usually leads to a more sensible purchasing decision.

 

Water consumption matters too

 

Energy efficiency is not only about electricity. Washing machines and dishwashers also use water, and their energy labels provide information that makes comparing this consumption easier.

For washing machines, the current label includes water consumption per Eco 40-60 cycle alongside electricity consumption, capacity, programme duration, spin efficiency and noise. While dishwasher labels similarly indicate water consumption per eco cycle.

This matters because using and heating water contributes to the overall resources required to operate an appliance.

A dishwasher, for example, can be a surprisingly efficient way to clean dishes when used correctly. The European Commission notes that an efficient dishwasher can use around 9 litres of water to clean up to 15 place settings, substantially less than washing an equivalent amount by hand.

When comparing appliances, therefore, look at both kWh and litres, rather than focusing solely on the efficiency class.

 

Check the QR code before buying

 

One of the most useful features of the current EU energy label is also one that many consumers overlook: the QR code. Scanning it gives access to information about the product in EPREL, the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling.

EPREL contains information about products placed on the EU market that are subject to energy-labelling requirements. Consumers can use the database to examine technical information rather than relying exclusively on advertising or the information displayed in a shop. And it has recently become even more useful.

Since July 2026, EPREL includes a comparison function that allows users to compare similar registered products. For someone buying appliances for a home in Spain, this provides a useful independent resource for checking different models before making a decision.

Instead of choosing between two refrigerators because one has a more prominent promotional discount, for example, you can compare their energy information and technical characteristics.

 

Pay particular attention to appliances that run continuously

 

Not every appliance has the same influence on your annual electricity consumption. A refrigerator or freezer operates continuously throughout the year, making efficiency particularly important. This is different from an appliance that you use for only a few minutes each week. When replacing a refrigerator, consider its annual energy consumption, usable capacity and whether additional features are genuinely useful to you.

Temperature settings also matter after purchase. IDAE recommends approximately 5°C for the refrigerator compartment and -18°C for the freezer. It also advises avoiding putting hot food directly into the refrigerator and limiting how long the door remains open. These behaviours may sound simple, but an efficient appliance still needs to be used efficiently.

For second-home owners, refrigerators deserve additional consideration. If a property remains empty for several months at a time, appliances that continue operating can represent an important part of the home’s background electricity consumption.

 

Washing machines and dishwashers: understand the Eco programme

 

Eco programmes sometimes confuse homeowners because they can take considerably longer than faster washing cycles. A longer programme does not necessarily mean higher energy consumption. The Eco 40-60 programme used for the washing-machine energy label is specifically designed as the reference programme for normally soiled cotton laundry that can be washed at 40°C or 60°C.

Energy and water consumption figures displayed on the label are based on standardised conditions, making it easier to compare different models. For dishwashers, the energy label similarly uses the eco programme as its reference.

The important point is to compare like with like. A very fast programme may be convenient when you are in a hurry, but it should not automatically be assumed to be the most energy-efficient option.

 

Noise can also influence the right choice

 

Efficiency is important, but your appliance still has to work for your home. Modern energy labels provide noise information for relevant appliance categories. This can be particularly useful in open-plan apartments, smaller properties or homes where the washing machine or dishwasher is located close to bedrooms or living areas.

A slightly quieter appliance may be worth considering even if another model has marginally lower electricity consumption. The most efficient purchasing decision is not necessarily the appliance with the best value in one single category. It is the model that balances energy use, capacity, water consumption, noise and functionality for your household.

 

Should you replace an old appliance just because a new one is more efficient?

 

Not necessarily. A modern appliance may use less electricity than an older model, but purchasing a new product also involves a financial cost and the manufacturing of a replacement.

If your current appliance works correctly, is reasonably efficient and is not responsible for a large amount of household consumption, immediate replacement may not make financial sense. Replacement becomes more interesting when an older appliance consumes significantly more energy, requires frequent repairs or no longer meets your household’s needs.

This is why understanding your home’s consumption can be useful before replacing appliances purely in the hope of reducing your electricity bill. If a refrigerator is responsible for a significant amount of background consumption, replacing it may make sense. If an appliance is used only a few times per year, the potential financial saving may be much smaller. Prioritise improvements according to their actual impact.

 

Think about your appliances if you have solar panels

 

For homes with solar self-consumption, when an appliance operates can become almost as important as how much electricity it uses. Washing machines, dishwashers and other flexible loads can often be programmed to operate during periods of high solar generation.

Instead of exporting surplus solar electricity and later purchasing electricity from the grid to run an appliance, you may be able to use more of the electricity generated directly by your panels. Smart appliances and programmable plugs can make this easier. The same principle applies to other flexible household loads, such as electric vehicle charging or certain water-heating systems.

An energy-efficient home is therefore not simply a collection of highly rated appliances. It is a home where efficient equipment is combined with intelligent energy management.

 

The purchase price is only part of the cost

 

A cheaper appliance is not necessarily cheaper in the long term. The real cost of ownership includes the purchase price plus the electricity and, where relevant, water used throughout the appliance’s working life. This is why comparing consumption before purchasing is worthwhile.

A more efficient model may have a higher initial price but lower operating costs. Conversely, paying substantially more for the highest efficiency class may not always provide enough additional savings to justify the difference.

The best approach is to compare similar appliances, consider how frequently you will use them and estimate the impact over several years. For a permanent home, lifetime energy consumption may be particularly important. For a holiday property occupied only occasionally, the calculation can be different, although appliances that remain switched on throughout the year should still receive special attention.

 

Conclusion: choose appliances for the way you actually live

 

Choosing energy-efficient appliances is one of the practical ways to reduce household electricity consumption, but the energy rating should never be the only factor you consider. Use the A-to-G label as a starting point and then examine actual energy consumption, capacity, water use, programme characteristics and noise.

Most importantly, choose an appliance that matches your household. An oversized appliance with an excellent rating may not be the most efficient option for a small home, while paying a large premium for marginally lower consumption may not always provide the best financial return.

Tools such as EPREL can make comparison easier and help you make purchasing decisions based on standardised product information. And remember that efficient equipment works best as part of a wider energy strategy. Using appliances at appropriate times, monitoring household consumption and coordinating flexible loads with solar generation can reduce the amount of electricity your home needs to purchase from the grid.

At Evergreen Eléctrica, we help homeowners and international property owners in Spain understand how their homes use electricity. From reviewing your electricity contract to solar self-consumption and smarter energy management, our team can help you identify practical ways to make your property more energy efficient.