European Union energy label

thumb|right|Example EU energy label for a refrigerator

EU Directive 92/75/EC (1992) established an energy consumption labelling scheme. The directive was implemented by several other directives thus most white goods, light bulb packaging and cars must have an EU Energy Label clearly displayed when offered for sale or rent. The energy efficiency of the appliance is rated in terms of a set of energy efficiency classes from A to G on the label, A being the most energy efficient, G the least efficient. The labels also give other useful information to the customer as they choose between various models. The information should also be given in catalogues and included by internet retailers on their websites.

In an attempt to keep up with advances in energy efficiency, A+, A++, and A+++ grades were later introduced for various products; since 2010, a new type of label exists that makes use of pictograms rather than words, to allow manufacturers to use a single label for products sold in different countries.

Directive 92/75/EC was replaced by Directive 2010/30/EU, and was again replaced by Regulation 2017/1369/EU from 1 August 2017. Updated labelling requirements entered into force in 2021, the exact date depended on the relevant delegated regulation (e.g. dishwasher's labels changed on 1 March 2021).

It reintroduced a simpler classification, using only the letters from A to G. The rescaling led to better differentiation among products that, under the previous label classification, all appeared in the same top categories. It meant, for example, that a fridge that previously had an A+++ label could now be a C category, even though the fridge is just as energy efficient as before. The main principle was that the A category would be empty at first, and B and C categories scarcely populated, to pave way for new, more energy efficient products to be invented and developed.

Major appliances

thumb|Pre-2021 energy label for a refrigerator

thumb|150px|right|Pre-2010 energy label for a washing machine

Labelling

The energy labels are separated into at least four categories:

The appliance's details: according to each appliance, specific details, of the model and its materials.
Energy class: a colour code associated with a letter (from A to G) that gives an idea of the appliance's electrical consumption relative to what is available on the market
Consumption, efficiency, capacity, etc.: this section gives information according to appliance type.
Noise: the noise emitted by the appliance is described in decibels.

Refrigerating appliances

For refrigerating appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, wine-storage appliances, and combined appliances, the labelling is specified in terms of an energy efficiency index EEI, which is an indication of the annual power consumption relative to a reference consumption that is based on the storage volume and the type of appliance (refrigerator or freezer).

The label also contains:

the annual energy consumption in kW·h
the capacity of fresh foods in litres for refrigerators and combined appliances
the capacity of frozen foods in litres for freezers and combined appliances
the noise in dB(A)

Pre-2021

For cold appliances (and this product alone), for models that are more economical than those of category A, categories A+, A++, and A+++ were previously assigned. According to the 2010 regulations, the boundary between the A+ and A classes was 44 up to 1 July 2014, and 42 after that date.

Washing machines and tumble dryers

Up to 2010, the energy efficiency scale for washing machines is calculated based on a cotton cycle at 60 °C (140 °F) with a maximum declared load. This load is typically 6 kg. The energy efficiency index is in kW·h per kilogram of washing, assuming a cold-water supply at 15 °C.

The energy label also contains information on:

total consumption per cycle
washing performance – with a class from A to G
spin drying performance – with a class from A to G
maximum spin speed
the total cotton capacity in kg
water consumption per cycle in litres
noise in the washing and spinning cycles dB(A)

The washing performance is measured according to European harmonised standard EN 60456 and is based on a 60 °C cycle on fabric samples with stains of oil, blood, chocolate, sebum, and red wine, using a standardised detergent and compared against a reference washing machine. The amount of stain removal is then translated into a washing performance index.

The spin-drying efficiency class is based on the remaining moisture content (RMC), which is the mass of water divided by the dry mass of cotton fabrics. It is based on a weighted average of full-load and partial-load cycles.

{P_{on\Big) \times F_{TM} \text{ (lm/W)}</math>

Where <math>\phi_{use}</math> is the declared useful luminous flux (in lm), <math>P_{on}</math> is the declared on-mode power consumption (in watts), and <math>F_{TM}</math> is a factor between 0.926 and 1.176 depending on the light source being or not directional and being or not powered from mains.

Class A is defined in a different way; hence, the variable percentage.

Since 2012 A+ and A++ classes are added and are introduced different classes for directional lamps and non-directional lamps.

Directional lamps are defined as "having at least 80% light output within a solid angle of π sr (corresponding to a cone with angle of 120°)".

Calculation

Incandescent and fluorescent lamps with and without an integrated ballast can be divided into energy efficiency classes. The division of lamps into such classes was made in EU Directive 98/11/EC

The energy class is based on the Energy Efficiency Index (EEI), which is the power consumption relative to a reference power consumption. The index of a normal television with screen area A (in dm2) is

:<math>EEI_{label} = \frac{(P_{measured} + 1)}{(3\times [90\times tanh(0.025 + 0.0035\times(A-11))+4]+3)+corr_{l</math>

Where <math>P_{\mathrm{measured</math> is the measured power in on mode in Watts in the normal configuration, and <math>corr_{l}</math> is a correction factor used for digital signage.

For example, a television with a diagonal length of 82 cm has a screen area of A = 28.7 dm2 and a reference power consumption of 38W. The energy classes are as in the table below.

In televisions with automatic brightness control (ABC), the on-mode power consumption is reduced by 10 % if the following conditions are fulfilled:

ABC is enabled in the normal configuration of the electronic display and persists in any other standard dynamic range configuration available to the end user
the value of <math>P_{\mathrm{measured</math>, in the normal configuration, is measured, with ABC disabled or if ABC cannot be disabled, in an ambient light condition of 100 lux measured at the ABC sensor
if applicable, the value of <math>P_{\mathrm{measured</math> with ABC disabled shall be equal to or greater than the on mode power measured with ABC enabled in an ambient light condition of 100 lux measured at the ABC sensor
with ABC enabled, the measured value of the on mode power must decrease by 20 % or more when the ambient light condition, measured at the ABC sensor, is reduced from 100 lux to 12 lux
the ABC control of the display screen luminance meets all of the following characteristics when the ambient light condition measured at the ABC sensor changes:
the measured screen luminance at 60 lux is between 65 % and 95 % of the screen luminance measured at 100 lux
the measured screen luminance at 35 lux is between 50 % and 80 % of the screen luminance measured at 100 lux
the measured screen luminance at 12 lux is between 35 % and 70 % of the screen luminance measured at 100 lux The tyre label apply to:
Car and SUV tyres
Van tyres
Truck tyres

with the exception of:

Tyres for cars made before 1 October 1990
Re-treaded tyres
Motorcycle tyres
Racing/sports car tyres
Studded tyres
Spare tyres
Vintage car tyres
Professional off-road tyres.

Society and culture

Impacts on purchasing decisions

A trial of estimated financial energy cost of refrigerators alongside EU energy-efficiency class (EEEC) labels online found that the approach of labels involves a trade-off between financial considerations and higher cost requirements in effort or time for the product-selection from the many available options – which are often unlabelled and don't have any EEEC-requirement for being bought, used or sold within the EU. Moreover, in this one trial the labeling was ineffective in shifting purchases towards more sustainable options.

References

External links

Official EU regulations on energy labelling
Come On Labels project