All about the energy label
By Esther / September 10, 2024
When you buy a new light bulb, you've probably seen an energy label on the package. But what exactly does this energy label mean? Why is it important and how can it help you make a conscious choice?
What is an energy label?
An energy label is an official label that indicates how energy efficient a product is. This label is designed to help consumers choose energy-efficient products, which both saves costs and benefits the environment. The European Union has made the energy label mandatory for several products, including lighting.
What does an energy label say?
The energy label for lighting ranges from A to G, with A indicating the highest efficiency and G the lowest. In addition to the energy class, the label also lists annual energy consumption in kWh, based on a standard usage of 1,000 hours.
What does an energy label look like?
A lighting energy label is designed to be simple and clear, allowing consumers to see at a glance the energy efficiency of a product.
At the top of the label is the name and model number of the supplier. Below that you will see the colored arrows, these range from dark green (A) to red (G). The colors help to quickly identify the product's efficiency class. The black arrow shows the energy class of your lamp. Below the energy class is the annual energy consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is based on a standard usage of 1,000 hours per year. LED bulbs are often the most energy-efficient bulbs. At the bottom of the label is a QR code. Scanning this will take you to the European Commission's online products database. Here you can find more detailed information about the product and it is possible to indicate that the information, as indicated on the label, corresponds to reality.
Old energy labels vs new energy labels
The EU has changed the energy label scale to a simpler A to G scale, instead of the old A+++ to D scale. This means that products that were previously considered very energy efficient can now receive a lower label because standards have become stricter. With the new scale, the EU wants to make room for future technological advances.
In addition, the method of measuring the energy efficiency of lighting has changed, which may mean that products that were previously considered highly efficient are now rated lower. LED bulbs, for example, may now have an energy label of G due to stricter standards. This does not mean that these bulbs are inefficient, but that the requirements have become higher to better inform consumers and encourage innovation in the lighting industry.
