FAQs
To make room for further advances in technology and efficiency. The majority of appliances on the market are already A+ to A+++, meaning that almost all appliances are clustered at the top of the energy rating scale.
The efficiency rating bands have been rescaled and revert to A to G, with no plusses. With ratings spread from A to G comparison will be easier for customers.
Washing machines, washer-dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators/freezers and wine coolers.
From the 1 November there will already be a second new label in the box, although the existing label will still be the one on display in shops and online.
Initially A rated appliances will be very rare. Generally, B will be the highest rating. Although, with ratings spread from A to G, E and F will still be high efficiency models and you will not see any fridge-freezers with a G rating.
‘Plus’ classes will still exist for tumble-dryers, cookers and hoods as these categories have not been included in this revision.
The second label will take effect on the 1 March. To ensure that this can happen it is a legal requirement that it be available in the box for four months before that.
1 March 2021, only the new labels will be on display in shops and online.
Washing machines and washer dryers have a new ‘Eco 40 – 60’ programme which provides the best energy and water efficiency.
There is a QR code on the label which will allow the customer to check the key technical characteristics of the model. These specifications have been registered on a European database to which the unique QR code is linked.
Some of the pictograms or icons have changed slightly and the consumption values represented by the rating bands A to G have been rescaled. There is also a new rating for noise in addition to the number of decibels.
There will be no changes to the content of the new label, or the performance standards it represents, although the Government has announced that it will carry a Union Jack instead of the EU flag.
The labels on tumble dryers, ovens and cooker hoods although not yet affected by the new rating scales, will also carry a Union Jack instead of the EU flag.
Ecodesign is the regulation that stipulates product requirements to increase energy efficiency and minimise environmental impact. The energy label is the tool that illustrates the achievement of these performance requirements to the consumer.
They define the washing and rinsing efficiency of washing machines and the drying efficiency of washer-dryers. The ecodesign regulations require all washing machines and dishwashers to have an eco-cycle. In the interests of resource efficiency there are also new stipulations to cover availability of spare parts and access to repair information for professional repairers.