EU energy label

Link: http://www.energy.eu/focus/energy-label.php 

Target:

The EU energy labelling was launched in 1992 with the approval of the Directive 92/75/EEC. Directive 92/75/EEC established an energy labelling system including an energy efficiency rating from "A to G" - with "A" being the most energy efficient, G the least efficient. The energy label allows consumers to easily recognise the most energy efficient product and encourages manufacturers to develop more energy efficient products.

Beside the energy efficiency class (A to G) the following pieces of information may be given on the label:

name of the manufacturer and product type

• electricity consumption for one cycle (e.g. washing, drying cycle) or within 24 hours
• other efficiency classes e.g. washing, spinning, cleaning, drying, etc.
• water consumption (for washing machines, dishwashers)

Product/service group:

So far the EU energy label is applied to the following household appliances, even if they are sold for non-household uses:

• refrigerators, freezers and their combinations
• washing machines, dryers and their combinations
• dishwashers
• ovens
• water heaters and hot-water storage appliances
• lighting sources
• air-conditioning appliances

Awarding Institution & criteria:

For each appliance an EU Directive has been issued, e.g. for lighting sources directive 98/11/EC. These Directives also contain the criteria for the classification of appliances in the respective energy efficiency classes. Member states are obliged to implement these EU directives into national law. After the implementation the energy label is mandatory in that country. The EU energy label must be clearly displayed when a product is offered for sale or rent in the EU. The retailer is in charge of the display of the energy label, but the supplier (manufacturer or impoter) has to provide the label.

The label is valid until a revision of a Directive is issued. This already happened for several product groups, e.g. for refrigerators and freezers as the initial Directive 943/2/EC was amended by directive 2003/66/EC. With one of these revisions A+ and A++ grades were introduced for refrigerators and freezers - as an attempt to keep up with advances in energy efficiency.

Control mechanisms:

According to Directive 92/75/EEC the execution of control mechanism is up to the national authorities. Member states are obliged to take all necessary measures

• to ensure that all suppliers fulfil their obligations resulting from the Directive
• to prohibit the display of other labels, marks, symbols etc. relating to energy consumption which do not comply with the requirements of the Directive
• to carry out information campaigns aiming at increasing the awareness level of the label.

Additionally, member states may also request suppliers to show credibly, that the information supplied on energy label is accurate.

Charges:

No provision fee for the EU energy label.

Relevance on the market:

The effects of the energy label have been evaluated through several EU wide studies which show that e.g. for refrigerators and freezers the percentage of "A" class models increased ten times from 3.2 % in 1994 to more than 34 % in 2001. For washing machines the percentage of "A" class models increased from 1.3 % in 1996 to 51.5 % in 2001. So the label has clearly led to more energy efficient appliances on the market.