The Energy Labelling Regulation’s primary objective is to inform consumers as to the energy efficency of products they purchase, thereby saving energy and contributing to the EU’s target of a 20% reduction in energy consumption by 2020, as part of a wider development of renewable energies and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Since the implementation of energy labelling requirements, manufacturers and retailers are legally required to provide consumers/end-users with standardised energy efficiency information across certain groups of products. Where end-users are not expected to see the product, or the product label displayed (such as through online sales, or in technical promotional material) they must take measures to ensure that consumers are also supplied with this information.
The use of the energy labels across product groups allows consumers to make purchasing decisions on the basis of the energy efficiency information provided on the energy label, resulting in cost and energy savings for consumers, as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The result of this prompts manufacturers to innovate, and manufacture products that consume less energy and other resources.
The most recent Energy Labelling Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 came into force in July 2017, repealing the Energy Labelling Directive 2010/30/EU. The regulation brings about a number of changes to the labelling scheme from the Directive and introduces a new product energy efficiency database.
Many elements of the Energy Labelling Directive 2010/30/EU have been kept, including the mandatory description of the appliance and its model reference number, the numerical values for consumption, and requires the mandatory energy labelling of 15 energy-related product groups – many of which are the most energy-consuming home appliances (i.e. heaters, washing machines, refrigerators etc.).
The parameters required on the label are dependent on the product group. The primary focus is on energy consumed while the product is in use, but can also include the consumption of other resources, such as the water consumption of washing machines, or the noise levels of household appliances during use.
The EU energy labelling regulations require that the energy labels be supplied and displayed for the following product categories:
- Air conditioner
- Household washer driers
- Domestic ovens and range hood
- Local space heaters
- Electrical lamps and luminaires
- Professional refrigerated storage cabinets
- Water heater and storage tanks
- Residential ventilation units
- Household dishwashers
- Solid Fuel boilers
- Household refrigerating appliances
- Televisions
- Household tumble driers
- Household washing machines
- Vacuum cleaners
Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 restores the former A-G scale for energy labelling for different product categories through delegated acts over time, keeping the “traffic light” green to red colour scheme for classifying product energy efficiency, but eliminating the A+, A++ and A+++ categories implemented by the Directive 2010/30/EU. This ‘rescaling’ has been brought in to reflect improvements in product energy efficiency (as many products now tend to be A grade) and accommodate further advances in energy efficiency.
The regulation also sees the implementation of a new product energy efficiency database, whereby suppliers are to make product compliance information freely available to consumers and Market Surveillance Authorities.
Miltcon Services Ltd. is involved in market surveillance associated with the verification of suppliers (manufacturers) and dealers (retailers) obligations with Regulation (EU) 2017/1369, the overall effects of which ensure that consumers are given the correct information when choosing the most energy-efficient product, reducing energy use over the products lifetime and lower energy bills, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and the reducing the impact on the environment.