Status: 01.09.2021 02:14 am
A new energy label for household appliances has been in effect in the EU for six months. It is intended to promote the decision in favor of energy-saving products. Now it applies to even more products.
After televisions and refrigerators, it is now the turn of incandescent lamps and other light sources: From today on, they too will receive new EU energy labels in shops and online shops. The previous ratings with A + or A +++ are replaced by ratings on a scale ranging from A to G. A stands for particularly energy-saving and G for comparatively inefficient. This is intended to help consumers make a purchase.
Stricter requirements, room for improvement
Because light sources have used less and less energy in recent years, most products have recently rushed into the upper classes; the classification became increasingly confusing. According to the responsible EU Commissioner Kadri Simson, more than half of the LEDs now fall into the best category A +++: “Updating the labeling will make it easier for consumers to see which products are the best in their class, which in turn will help them save energy and save money. ”
The new requirements are stricter. For this reason, only a few lamps will initially achieve the upper classifications A and B. Instead, the most energy-efficient products on the market now usually bear the label C or D. This means there is room for improvement for even more economical light sources that will be developed in the future. The labels also contain new elements, such as a QR code that refers to an EU-wide database – with further information about the product in question.
Smooth transition from the old to the new label
The transition from the old to the new labels is flowing, and retailers have 18 months to do this. However, for online sales, the old labels must be replaced with the new ones within 14 working days.
According to the EU Commission, an estimated 1,500 million light sources were sold in the EU last year – but this number is likely to fall by more than half by 2030. The reason: bulbs are becoming more economical and last longer. According to this, an average EU household bought seven light sources per year in 2010, in 2020 there were four, and by 2030 it should be less than one per year.
The new EU energy label has been in effect for televisions, dishwashers, fridges or freezers, washer-dryers and washing machines since last March. Consumer advice centers and the Federal Environment Agency have generally welcomed the introduction. Customers have also accepted the classification. This is shown by studies by the EU Commission and the Federation of German Consumer Organizations with a view to the previously applicable regulation: According to this, 93 percent are familiar with it, and more than 80 percent use it as a guide when making purchase decisions. New labels for tumble dryers, ovens, extractor hoods and vacuum cleaners are to follow in the next three years. It will take even longer for heaters and boilers.