To improve energy efficiency, the EU will adopt new energy efficiency labels for home appliances
[European Times, March 2, Wen Geng compiled] From March 1, the EU will adopt a new energy label for household appliances. Why do we need to change the energy label? What does the new energy label look like? What impact will the new energy label have?
What does the new energy logo look like?
According to the German Daily News, for consumers who want to buy new TVs, dishwashers, refrigerators/freezers, dryers, or washing machines, the three A-level energy efficiency labels (from A+ to A+++) will be invalidated and replaced by the new EU energy label, which includes seven color segments, from the dark green A-level representing “particularly energy-saving” to the dark red G-level representing “relatively low energy saving”. “More environmentally friendly, more economical” is still the guiding ideology of the new energy label design.
The picture shows a comparison between the old and new EU energy logos, with the updated logo on the right. (Image source: European Commission official website)
The evaluation criteria have changed significantly
Compared with the old energy efficiency label, the new label is clearer and the evaluation criteria have changed significantly. According to the new evaluation criteria, devices previously marked with A+++ will not be automatically converted to the new highest level A. In the beginning, no product will be able to obtain the new A-level label. Bigon from the German Consumer Center Association said that the current top energy-saving equipment will be downgraded by a maximum of three levels. “For example, after the label is updated, most of the most energy-efficient refrigerators may be rated C. And washing machines, it is expected that many can be rated B. In principle, the old label cannot be compared with the new label because the evaluation criteria have changed too much.”
The new logo will change the chaos
In the past, energy labels were too confusing and consumers suffered. In 2006, about two-thirds of refrigerators and washing machines were classified as A (A+ to A+++). By 2017, 90% of equipment was classified as A, and lower-level energy efficiency labels were almost useless. The use of new energy efficiency labels will change this situation. The new energy efficiency labels will be clearer and more transparent, and now the QR code in the upper right corner of the new label will provide detailed product information.
This is a good thing, but it still has limitations
The European Commission revealed that appliances using the old energy label (together with the Ecodesign Directive) save about 1,750 megawatt hours of energy each year, which is equivalent to Italy’s annual energy consumption. According to the new energy efficiency standards, it should save another 167 megawatt-hours on the original basis, which is equivalent to Denmark’s annual energy consumption. Harach of the German Environment Agency said that the use of the new label is a good thing in general, but it should be noted that “some products become larger as energy efficiency increases, such as TVs, so they will not significantly reduce energy consumption in the end.” Green Party MP Paulus said that it is time for energy efficiency labels to adapt to technological advances, but unfortunately, people still only evaluate the energy consumption during the operation of the equipment, but fail to calculate the energy resource consumption during the production process of the equipment, and do not consider the equipment’s service life and maintenance costs.
According to a survey by the European Commission and the German Consumer Center Association, 93% of consumers are aware of the change in energy labels, and more than 80% said they would use it as a guide to purchase goods. Morel of the European Consumer Union (BEUC) said that this will encourage manufacturers to produce more energy-efficient products, forming an energy-efficiency competition in the market, and bringing a win-win situation for consumers and the environment. “
Energy efficiency standards and certification requirements for heat pump dryers in different countries
Heat pump dryers are sold in different countries.Different countries have strict requirements for household appliances such as heat pump dryers. the standards and certifications ofheat pump dryersin some countries. Let’s take a look.
1. EU:
The EU has regulated the energy efficiency of clothes dryers, which are displayed in the form of energy labels. The EU has high energy efficiency requirements for heat pump dryers, generally requiring them to reach energy class A+ or higher.
2. United States
The U.S. Department of Energy ( DOE ) has established energy efficiency requirements for heat pump dryers and conducts energy efficiency certification. At the same time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA )’s ENERGY STAR certification also covers heat pump dryers .
3. China:
China has formulated the “Energy Efficiency Limit Values and Energy Efficiency Grades for Household Appliances” standard, which is usually identified by letters ( A+, A++ , A+++, etc.) and regulates the energy efficiency of household appliances, including heat pump dryers. The standard stipulates the energy efficiency grades and energy efficiency limit values for heat pump dryers .