Summary
The Energy Labelling Regulation supports the EU 2030 Climate and Energy policy Framework with the key objective to reduce energy demand.
The Regulation enables consumers to make an informed choice for energy and other resource savings. It also contributes to the EU Circular Economy Plan.
It repeals the previous Directive (2010/30/EU) and modifies and enhances the provisions within the existing scope. A Regulation has replaced a Directive as it gives clear rules which reduce the chance of divergent transposition into local Member State laws.
Purpose
The Regulation enhances information through the supply chain and in particular places obligations on Suppliers and Dealers of products for labelling and making database information available to consumers.
The classification system from A-G has been shown to be effective and the Regulation concentrates on A-D classes. Products subject to the Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) should no longer fall into classes E-F.
Products within the Energy Labelling scope must be supplied with a class rating label at the point of sale.
One of the provisions is to stop the confusing situation where existing labels have split the top performing classes into A+,++ and +++ subgroups as technology performance has improved and the label classes have not kept pace.
The Regulation allows the rescaling of the labels, and as a priority will rescale three product groups. Eventually all groups labels will be rescaled. These rescaled labels will be made available by suppliers.
When labels are rescaled there will be consideration to allow for future product improvements so on the day of reissue no products within scope will be on the market with an A class rating,
The Regulation also closes the loophole of either firmware or software updates that affect the energy efficiency or other parameters of products during their use phase. If any changes are to the detriment of the performance then the customer has the right to refuse them being installed.
The Regulation also introduces an EU database for Suppliers and Manufacturers to update with the latest technical information on any products within scope.
The database will be available to the public and there are obligations on suppliers to ensure the information is updated after the products have stopped selling.
Requirements
The Energy Labelling Directive is what is known as a 'framework directive' in that it does not of itself specify any limits or performance levels. It provides a legislative framework into which other directives can be introduced to require marking and performance levels for particular types of domestic appliance.
Under the subsidiary directives, appliances must be marked to show their maximum energy consumption. Consumption figures are based on a series of equations given in the appropriate directive.
Scope of the Energy Labelling Regulation
The Regulation as of June 2018 covers the following product groups.
- Dishwashers
- Domestic ovens
- Air conditioners and comfort fans
- Water heaters and hot water storage tank
- Space heaters
- Local solid fuel space heaters
- Solid fuel boilers
- Lamps, (directional, LED, non directional, fluorescent and professional)
- Refrigerated storage cabinets
- Refrigerating appliances
- Televisions
- Tumble dryers
- Vacuum cleaners
- Ventilation units
- Washer dryers
- Washing machines
Conformity assessment and enforcement
Compliance is based upon self-assessment by the relevant party and supporting documentation will be required.
The UK Enforcement Authority for the Ecodesign Regulation is the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
Future developments
The Energy Labelling directive and specific aspects of the Eco-design directive will be evaluated in 2014. The Energy Label Evaluation website gives detailed information about this review.
The Energy Services Directive (2006/32/EU) was repealed as of 5th June 2014, as outlined by the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) 2012/27/EU.
Useful links
The European Commission has a general web page on the Energy Labelling of Domestic Appliances and one on the Energy Labelling Directive, containing links to all relevant publications and consultations.
A summary of the Directive can be found on Europa’s website, which also contains a list of links to the Commission Directives that form the Implementing Rules.