A Guide to the New Energy Labels

An energy label is a simple way to establish how energy efficient an appliance is. However, you might have noticed that the A+++ rated lightbulb you purchased previously has suddenly changed to a C. Don’t panic! This doesn’t mean it was secretly less energy efficient than you thought, just that the rating system has changed.

Why is it changing?

To put it simply, the energy efficiency of appliances has significantly changed since the label was introduced in the 90s. When it was first introduced, the energy label only rated from A to D. Then, in 2011, A+, A++, and A+++ ratings were added.

However, thanks to technological advancement, over 90% of products fall within this range – with the least efficient products being rated A and A+. This creates confusion that your A rated products are some of the most efficient in the market, when this simply isn’t the case.

This is why the new system has been developed. The rating system is now from A to G to not only make it easier to understand, but also to allow room for innovation.

What has changed?

As mentioned above, the main change is the new scale. Where the old scale was from A+++ to D, the new label is from A to G.

The new labels also include a QR code. You can scan this with your phone to find out more information about the appliance and its energy rating.

The icons have also been redesigned and will change based on the type of appliance the label is related to. This makes it simpler to understand their product features and their efficiency. For example, a label that may be seen on a dishwasher will now feature an energy consumption based on ECO mode for 100 cycles, rather than per year.

Why are the ratings so low?

Don’t worry! This doesn’t mean your appliances are any less efficient, just that it is more difficult for a product to have an A or B rating. This will help to allow room for technological advancement, and also help to clear up any confusions about how efficient the appliance may be.