Energy: Online ENEA guide on rescaled 2021 energy labels

As of March 1, Eu energy labels of some home appliances were renewed and a simpler classification reintroduced, using a scale going from A (maximum efficiency) to G (low efficiency), in place of the classification from A "With three plus" (A +++) to G.

In order to make energy labels more understandable for consumers and help them make better informed purchasing choices, ENEA created Energy Label 2021, a free guide downloadable online providing clear guidance on  the new rating and the features and energy efficiency of each model of product available on the EU market.

Created as part of the System Research funded by the Ministry of Economic Development, the guide explains in detail how energy labels of home, professional and commercial appliances work, their energy consumption, their operating costs according to the energy efficiency class and provides information on how to read symbols and numbers  to help consumers make an informed choice.

The new rules, introduced by the European Commission to simplify the labeling system and make it even easier for consumers to compare products by their energy performance, will be first introduced for five product groups of household appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, washer dryers, refrigerators and freezers, light sources, electronic displays) and one commercial group (refrigeration appliances with a direct sales function) The existing labels of other products will be gradually replaced.

In addition to electricity consumption, intuitive pictograms convey further information for a more informed purchase, ranging from water consumption per cycle to storage capacity, to noise emission and more. The new label also has a QR Code that links to the web page, which provides further information.

Over the years, the energy label has proved to be a key driver for increasing the energy efficiency of daily use electrical and non-electrical appliances. Introduced in 1994 in the EU and in 1998 in Italy, the energy label has contributed to an innovative industry development and has fostered competition, favoring the placing on the market of new products in progressively higher energy classes, broadening the possibility of purchasing a product with improved technical, energy, functional and environmental characteristics.

However, the progressive introduction of additional classes A +, A ++ and A +++ has brought the European Commission to adopt a simpler classification to avoid confusion among consumers.

ENEA has had a leading role in energy labeling for years, supporting  the Ministry of Economic Development and the European Commission with technical analyses on  content and lay out of labels. This guide on the energy labels for products on the market in 2021 is further proof of its commitment in fostering a culture of energy efficiency and making citizens more  informed and  aware.

To download the guide: https://www.efficienzaenergetica.enea.it/pubblicazioni/l-etichetta-energetica-2021.html