Energy efficiency will be marked with A to G in future. AK: Old stickers can still be stuck on old devices
A +++ can become C. All right? From next Monday, March 1st, new EU-wide energy labels will apply to electronic devices. The energy efficiency classes of refrigerators, washing machines, etc. are then only identified with letters from A to G. The new EU energy label puts an end to the plus signs that were previously behind the letters. This is intended to make labeling simpler and more transparent. According to representatives of the Household Appliances Forum, the energy class is one of the top reasons consumers make a purchase decision.
In the new label is
Transitional period in retail
There is a transition period of around two weeks for trading. The new label will make it even easier to understand, says Alfred Janovsky, Managing Director Electrolux and Chairman of the Forum Hausgeräte (FHG). The new label can initially be found on refrigerators and freezers, washing machines and washer-dryers, dishwashers, televisions and electronic displays, and from September also on other light sources.
The new labels are to be introduced at a later date for product groups such as air conditioning, heating and hot water preparation. The energy classes for large household appliances have existed since the mid-1990s. An important reason for the reform is the technological development towards more efficient devices. In laundry care, for example, around 90 percent of the devices are currently in the best class, it was said today.
There is no direct conversion method for the new efficiency classes, says Michael Mehnert, Managing Director BSH Austria and FHG Board Member. The actual energy consumption of the devices does not change. “Only the scaling will change visibly for the consumer.” In class A, space was left for innovations and more energy-efficient models. What changes is the measurement method. It has been adapted to the changed habits, for example when loading a dishwasher. In the future, for example, a device that was previously marked with A +++ could be classified with a “C”. There is no general rule for this, it depends on the device in question.
Customer confusion
The Chamber of Labor (AK) fears consumer confusion because old stocks with old labels can still be sold until November 2021. “It is positive that there is a new energy label. It is easier to understand, more clearly structured and easier to compare, ”says AK consumer advocate Nina Tröger. The two energy labels could be confusing, however, since the new energy efficiency classes are assessed differently and are therefore not comparable.
