Let's sort this labelling confusion!

We are pleased that the EU parliament has rejected the confusing new energy rating system that was proposed for TVs. The commission had proposed to introduce efficiency classes going beyond the current most efficient "A" rating for TVs and fridges. For example, "A-20%", which would mean a product that is 20% more efficient than an A-rated product. However, the new system will still go ahead for fridges and freezers. This is rather confusing for consumers!

You can see from my previous post ‘We’ve got the policies, now let’s see some action’ (30 January 2009) that we were worried that changing the rating system would confuse people. Our research showed that consumers prefer the existing system that rates the efficiency of products from A – G, and the vast majority thought the new system would be too confusing.

MEPs rightly opposed this new system because it wouldn’t be clear whether ‘A’ was in fact the most efficient product. We support keeping the simple A-G system, but it needs to be dynamic to ensure there is continued improvement in energy efficiency standards of products. The standards needed to achieve an A-rated product need to be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure ‘A’ really is the most efficient.

As we haven’t yet had a review of the standards needed to achieve an A-rating, we now also have A++ rated products – so not very straightforward! The EU is now planning to revise the energy labelling framework, so hopefully all the inconsistencies will be ironed out and we can have a simple, user-friendly system that ensures consumers know which products are the most efficient. We need to ensure this is supported by minimum energy efficiency standards for products too, which result in continuous improvement of performance.

Comments

[Alan King]

Who would undertake the assessment? Would it be the manufacturer or an independant certifier? I would imagine the cost would be passed down to the consumer in any scenario. A King(Syntegra Consulting: www.syntegra-epc.co.uk)

[Simon Heath]

Hopefully the EST can lobby to get this sorted. I recently went looking for an A++ rated freezer, not a single shop stocked them. They were all A rated with only 1 A+ fridge on offer. Which means that consumers are being sold what they think is best in class when really they're getting a "C". Personally I think they should abandon the ratings and stick kWh per year on in big bold. An A rated Amercian fridge uses 5,6,700+ kWh whilst a typical under counter less than 300. All A's are not the same. Consumers aren't that stupid they understand 700 is more than 125 (for an A++).