New EU energy label 2021: This is changing when it comes to energy efficiency

The new EU energy label came into force in March 2021. It replaces the previous labels for the energy efficiency classes. And that means: No more A+++. We explain what has changed with the new EU energy label.

The energy label has been mandatory for electrical appliances such as televisions, monitors and washing machines for more than 20 years – so you can see at a glance how energy-efficient the respective appliance is. In March 2021, the EU introduced a new label intended to provide more clarity for customers.

That is why there is the new EU energy label

Last featured A+++ the highest energy efficiency and D the worst. The power consumption of devices with an A+++ was correspondingly significantly lower than that of products with a D. However, the differences between A+++ and A+ were minor in practice and not always understandable for customers. In addition, in some product groups there were no longer any devices in the lower classes. Therefore, the EU decided to return to the old scale. Since March 1st, 2021 the Classification from A to G, from green to red. There are no more confusing plus signs.

The problem originally was that the classification with the A at the top was no longer sufficient because more and more devices were so energy-efficient that a gradation could only be made using several plus signs. At the start of the new EU energy label, there were no devices with the A rating, models with the lowest power consumption were rated B or C. Over time, however, particularly energy-efficient devices will again be marked with an A.

This is how the conversion of the energy label went

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The old classification with A+++ at the top has had its day.

Image: © picture alliance / blickwinkel 2017

Since 1st March 2021 You can find the new energy label online and in retail, products that are already available have been converted to the new label. This means that a device with an A+++ became a product with a B or C – but that is not particularly dramatic, after all the device suddenly no longer consumes more power than before the changeover.

For which categories the new EU energy label applies

• Electronic displays such as monitors, TV sets, signage displays
• dishwasher
• washing machines
• washer dryer
• Fridges, Freezers & Fridge Freezers
• wine storage cabinets
• Light sources & illuminants

Other product groups are to follow gradually. All product groups are to be equipped with the new EU energy label by 2030.

Energy label contains different information for product categories

In the lower area of ​​the new EU energy label you will still find specific information about the device in the respective product category. So there are different specifications for washing machines than for a TV. This is as follows for the TVs, monitors & signage displays category: where the energy consumption was previously given for four hours of use per day, since March 2021 you have been given the information for 1,000 hours of use, once in standard mode without HDR and once with HDR , which consumes slightly more power. There is also a new specification for the image resolution and the kilowatt hours are calculated depending on the display size.

Also available on the new EU energy label 2021: A QR code that you can easily scan with your smartphone. This leads you directly to the entry of the respective product in the database EPREL. Here you can access the energy label and view the data sheet of the device.

New EU energy label 2021
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summary

• Since March 1, 2021, the new EU energy label has replaced the previous one.
• The classification ranges from A to G, with A representing the best possible energy efficiency class. There is no longer an A with several plus signs, as was previously the case with the most energy-efficient devices.
• With the changeover, it can happen that a device A+++ only corresponds to B or C after the new classification.
• Nevertheless, these are still energy-efficient devices that do not need to be replaced immediately.