Read the Energy Efficiency Grades 1 to 5 When Choosing Home Appliances

What is the energy efficiency grade system for?

It was created so consumers can easily pick high-efficiency products and so manufacturers and importers are encouraged to make energy-saving products from the start. Manufacturers and importers are required to register their products, and products are divided into grades 1 to 5 by their energy efficiency or consumption.

How do you read the grade label?

The detailed items shown on the label differ by product type. The agency's introduction page does not spell out the details in sentences, so look at the label of the product you plan to buy and check its units.

What happens to products below the minimum efficiency standard?

Products below the standard are banned from production and sale, and violators are described as facing a fine of up to KRW 20 million. That is why the grading system rests on the fact that products on sale have cleared a minimum standard. But standards and grade ranges are set for each item, so check the item's notice to be precise.

Who attaches the label, and through what process?

Manufacturers and importers have their products measured at an efficiency management testing lab and register with the Korea Energy Agency within 90 days. Approved companies can also measure on their own. The grade label we see is the result of that registration, attached to the product.

Which items carry a label?

The agency's introduction page lists 42 items under efficiency management, excluding automobiles, and says grade labels apply to 23 of them. The number of items without labels is written inconsistently within the page, so the exact figure needs confirmation. Examples of items without labels include fans, incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lamps, monitors, computers, and pumps. If a product you want to buy has no label, first check whether that item falls under the grading system.

In what order should you check when choosing an appliance?

1. Check whether the product is an item that carries a grade label.
2. Compare grades among products of the same type and similar capacity.
3. Check the consumption figure on the label and its units.
4. Consider whether the capacity suits your hours of use and household size.

Even with a high grade, a capacity that is far too large can raise actual consumption, so look at the grade and capacity together. This article does not cover rankings or prices of specific products and only lays out the order for reading the label.

Where can you check?

The Korea Energy Agency's efficiency management site has menus for the system introduction, product search, testing lab search, and product registration. Look up grades and registration details for each product in the product search. The system and items can be revised, so after the date checked, 2026-10-08, look at the agency's latest guidance again.