ARCHIVED - New appliance energy labelling system comes into force across the EU from March 1
Energy in Spain is expensive, so choosing the right appliance is important in order to save money long-term
The plus signs will disappear from energy ratings on labels, which will return to the original A to G system, and appliances previously given an A rating will be classed as B or C to make room for new, more efficient products as they come onto the market.
The EU has introduced a new, stricter scale for energy efficiency labels on electrical appliances, which aims to make labels easier for buyers to understand.
The original labelling system, with a colour code from green to red (best to worst) and letters from A to G, was created in 1994 to help consumers choose appliances that would use less energy and help them save on their electricity bills as well as being better for the environment. However, as technology improved appliances became more and more efficient, and + signs had to be introduced as the scale ran out of letters, leading to some confusion as many people don’t know the difference between an A+, A++ or A+++.
This has led Europe to decide to simplify the process by moving everything down the scale to make room at the top. In addition, labels will now have to include a QR code which can be scanned with a mobile phone to access its data on the European Product Database for Energy Labelling (EPREL).
Moreover, labels will now have to provide more information than in the past and include pictograms at the bottom that will be used across Europe, allowing buyers to understand them regardless of the language the label’s text is written in.
The system will be revised again once 30 per cent of all appliances in Europe have reached an A rating, the EU has said.
The new labels came into force for fridges, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, televisions and other external monitors on Monday 1 March, and light bulbs and lamps will follow suit on 1 September. Air conditioning units, dryers, electric heaters and water heaters will have until 2022 to adopt the new system. Retailers have 14 working days to change the labels on their products.
Picking the right appliance is very important, especially in Spain where electricity is notoriously expensive. The updated labelling system should help make it easier for people who need to replace an appliance, or buy some for a new home, to make the right choice.
The EU energy label is a widely recognised feature on household products, like lightbulbs, television sets or washing machines, and has helped consumers make informed choices for more than 25 years. In an EU-wide (Eurobarometer) survey in 2019, 93% of consumers confirmed that they recognised the label and 79% confirmed that it had influenced their decision on what product to buy. Together with harmonised minimum performance requirements (known as ecodesign), EU energy labelling rules are estimated to cut consumer expenditure by tens of billions of euros every year, whilst generating multiple other benefits for the environment and for manufacturers and retailers.
The new categories for the rescaled label were agreed after a rigorous and fully transparent consultation process, with the close involvement of stakeholders and Member States at all stages, scrutiny by the Council and the European Parliament and with sufficient involvement of and notice provided to manufacturers. As required by the framework regulation, other product groups will be “rescaled” in the coming years – including tumble dryers, local space heaters, air conditioners, cooking appliances, ventilation units, professional refrigeration cabinets, space and water heaters, and solid fuel boilers.
The switch to the rescaled labels coincides with the entry into force of two horizontal (“omnibus”) regulations recently adopted to correct or clarify a range of issues identified in the concerned energy labelling and ecodesign regulations as originally adopted in 2019.
Image: European Commission