With rising crude oil prices, comes rising electrical costs. The Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme officially kicked off on 1st January 2008, though most manufacturers' have been scrambling before that to get their products tested and labelled.

It has become a common sight in electrical stores to see these labels stuck on air-conditioners and refrigerators. Personally, I think the labels look garish and are a pain to peel off. However, they do serve their purpose admirably. The four tick system allows for a fast and easy comparison between models, with zero to four ticks (four ticks being the most energy-efficient). But do keep in mind that the ratings are relative. Simply put, a 9000 BTU air-conditioner with one tick will still consume less energy than a 24000 BTU air-conditioner with four ticks. So do take a extra moment to look at the small print, ie. the energy consumption per kW-hr at full load and part load when making your purchase.