Energy Efficiency Information Labelling

The 1991 Specific Actions For Vigorous Energy Efficiency Programme gave impetus to the promotion of Energy Efficiency in the EU. One aspect was the effective labelling of the relative energy efficiency of domestic products and Energy Labels help the purchaser of electrical equipment to make an informed choice. In 1992, the Council of the European Union adopted a Framework Directive for the mandatory Energy Labelling of Domestic Products. The Directive delegated to the European Commission the responsibility to prepare and adopt detailed application directives for specific product types which are implemented in the UK through Statutory Instruments made under the European Communities Act 1972.

Purpose

The Statutory Instruments aim, through energy labels, to provide clear and easily recognisable information about the energy consumption and performance of products. The most important part of a label is the 7-point energy efficiency rating scale, which provides a simple index of efficiency from 'A' (most efficient) to 'G' (least efficient).

Labels on certain product types also display information about the level of noise emitted by a product. This is only mandatory where the supplier has taken steps to inform potential consumers of the level of noise emitted by the product in question.

Items now covered include:

• Refrigerators and freezers
• Washing machines
• Electric tumble dryers
• Combined washer-dryers
• Dishwashers
• Lamps
• Air conditioners
• Electric ovens

A Directive for Energy Labelling of Gas and Oil Water Heaters and Water Storage Devices is under consideration:

It will apply to:

• Gas or oil Storage water heaters
• Gas or oil instantaneous water heaters
• Solar water heaters using gas or oil to provide additional heat
• Water heaters using gas or oil-driven heat pumps
• The sanitary hot water function of gas or oil combi-boilers
• Water storage tanks designed to heat water by means of a heat exchanger driven by a gas or oil central heating boiler (even if they can also be heated by an electrical resistance [immersion heater])
• Water heating systems combining a water heater with heat exchanger, as above, and a gas or oil boiler

It will not apply to:

• Water heaters which principally use another energy source (e.g. electricity)
• Water heaters with a storage capacity of more than (500 litres) or energy input of more than (100kW)
• Water heaters too small to provide the water requirements of EU reference cycle N° 2
• Water heaters specifically designed to provide hot water at one outlet only - e.g. vented sink units
  

Another Directive for Electric Mains-Operated Water Heaters and Hot Water Storage Devices is also under discussion:

It will apply to:

• Electric Storage water heaters
• Electric instantaneous water heaters
• Solar water heaters using electricity to provide additional heat
• Water heaters using electrical driven heat pumps

It will not apply to:

• Water heaters heating water by means of a heat exchanger (e.g. heated by a central heating boiler), but which can also be heated by an electrical resistance (immersion heater)
• Water heaters which principally use another energy source (e.g. gas)
• Water heaters with a storage capacity of more than (500 litres) or energy input of more than (100kW)
• Water heaters too small to provide the water requirements of EU reference cycle N°2
• Water heaters specifically designed to provide hot water at one outlet only - for example electric shower units or vented sink units

Further details can be obtained from the DEFRA website

In October 2002, a voluntary EU unilateral industry commitment was concluded with the aim of removing all refrigerating appliances with an energy efficiency rating of C from the European Community market; the A+ and A++ ratings came into force in December 2004.

Energy labels are not required for purely commercial or secondhand products

Information available on the Stationery Office web site : www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk