New EU Energy Efficiency Labels Are Coming - But Do They Solve The Problem?

The European Commission yesterday agreed to act upon energy efficiency of household appliances, making good on one of their promises in the `Energy Union`-strategy to boost energy efficiency. As of 1 March 2021 new energy labels will be introduced, in case the European Parliament and the European Council of Ministers do not object. While the decision changes the categories of energy
appliances, it does little in resolving the differences between labeling systems in the US and the EU.

According to a press release of the Commission, the EU agreed clearer energy efficiency labelling rules, by moving from the current A+++ to G scale to an A to G energy scale, which is simpler and well understood by consumers. A product showing an A+++ energy efficiency class could for example become a B class after rescaling, without any change in its energy consumption. This will allow the top classes to have room for more energy efficient models.
After a consultation process following the 2017 agreement, the Commission has yesterday adopted the final format and visual identity of new labels for 6 product groups:
  • 5 product groups of household appliances with "rescaled" labels well known by European consumers: 1) dishwashers, 2) washing machines and washer-driers, 3) refrigerators, including wine storage fridges, 4) lamps, and 5) electronic displays including televisions.
  • A new labelling product group for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function used in shops and vending machines.
These new labels will be visible for European consumers in physical stores and on-line as of March 1st 2021.
A new element in these labels is a QR code with which consumers will be able to get additional, official (non-commercial) information by scanning the code with a common smartphone. This data is being inserted by manufacturers into the EPREL EU database which will become available to any European citizen in the next few months.
Commission estimations value the total final accumulated energy savings of these new labels by 2030 at 38,1 TWh/year, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of Hungary, constituting an important contribution to the EU’s energy and climate targets and supporting the implementation of the circular economy.

The new labels, however, do little in creating a worldwide level playing field for energy labels. While energy efficiency labels in the US, for instance, are strongly focussing on showing the energy consumption of the appliance and the estimated cost-savings compared to an average appliance, these components are almost absent from EU labels. The new decision does little to resolve this issue.

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