Air Conditioners and Energy Labels

Introduction

The Consumer Council tested air conditioners. Some machines use more power than others, but they all have the same top energy label.

Main Body

The Council tested 13 air conditioners. All machines had a Grade 1 label. However, some machines were 33 percent better than others. This means the labels are not the same for every machine. Alaina Shum says the energy rules are old. The rules are ten years old. She wants new rules so people can choose the best machine. Many machines have a bad warranty. Half of the machines have a warranty for only one year. This is a problem for the buyers. People should check how much power a machine uses in one year. Also, clean the dust filters every two weeks. This saves energy and keeps the machine safe.

Conclusion

The report says energy labels are not clear. The government needs new rules and better warranties.

Learning

⚡ Comparing Things

In the text, we see words that help us compare one machine to another. This is very important for A2 English.

The Pattern: Better & More

  • More power \rightarrow Use more when you have a larger amount of something.
  • Better \rightarrow This is the 'strong' version of good.
    • Good \rightarrow Better

Simple Logic: If Machine A uses 100 watts and Machine B uses 50 watts, Machine B is better because it uses less power.

Time Words Look at how the text describes time:

  • Ten years old (A long time)
  • One year (Short time)
  • Every two weeks (A routine/habit)

Quick Tip: Use "Every + [Time]" to talk about things you do again and again, like Every Monday or Every two weeks.

Vocabulary Learning

Consumer
A person who buys goods or services
Example:The consumer bought a new phone at the store.
Council
A group of people who make decisions for a community
Example:The council decided to build a new park in the town.
Tested
Examined to see if it works well
Example:The doctor tested the medicine before giving it to patients.
Energy
Power that can be used to make things work
Example:Solar energy powers the lights in the village.
Label
A small piece of paper or sticker that gives information
Example:The label on the box shows the weight of the product.
Warranty
A promise that a product will work for a certain time
Example:The warranty covers repairs for one year after purchase.
Percent
A part out of 100
Example:Ten percent of the students passed the exam.
Clean
To make something free from dirt
Example:Please clean the table before dinner.
Filter
A device that removes dust or other particles
Example:The filter catches dust from the air in the room.
Safe
Free from danger or harm
Example:The playground is safe for children to play on.