The International Network
for Sustainable Energy

The purpose of this Directive is to enable the harmonization of national measures regarding labelling information and minimum efficiency standards on the consumption of energy and of other essential resources.

According to the directive, the supplier must establish technical documentation sufficient to enable the accuracy of the information contained in the label and the fiche to be assessed. Suppliers are responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in the labels and fiches that they supply and are deemed to have given their consent to the publication of the information. Information on airborne noise and other public information relating to the appliance in question and provided pursuant to other Community legislation, must be included on the label or fiche. It allows consumers to choose more energy-efficient appliances.

Indeed, the Directive requires that appliances be labelled to show their power consumption in such a manner that it is possible to compare the efficiency with that of other makes and models. The energy efficiency class of the model is expressed on a scale from A (most efficient, sometimes is used A++) to G (least efficient).
The intention is that consumers will prefer more energy efficient appliances over those with a higher consumption, resulting in less efficient products eventually being withdrawn or decommissioned. Evaluations have indeed shown that this is the case.

The Directive applies to the following types of household appliances, even where these are sold for non-household uses:

* refrigerators, freezers and their combinations;
* washing machines, dryers and their combinations;
* dishwashers;
* ovens;
* water heaters and hot-water storage appliances;
* lighting sources;
* air-conditioning appliances.

Based on the Directive:
· 8 labelling Directives have been implemented. [LINK]
· 3 minimum energy efficiency standard Directives have been implemented.

Read more at the commission web site (links also to the full text of the directives) : http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/s16000.htm

The 8 labelling Directives under the Labelling Directive are:

Commission Directive 2003/66/EC of 3 July 2003 amending Directive 94/2/EC implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household electric refrigerators, freezers and their combinations

Directive 2002/40/EC
Commission Directive of 8 May 2002 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household electric ovens.

Directive 2002/31/EC
Commission Directive of 22 March 2002 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household air-conditioners.

Directive 1999/9/EC
Commission Directive of 26 February 1999 amending Directive 97/17/EC implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household dishwashers.

Directive 98/11/EC
Commission Directive 98/11/EC of 27 January 1998 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household lamps.

Directive 96/60/EC
Commission Directive of 19 September 1996 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household combined washer-dryers.

Directive 95/13/EC
Commission Directive of 23 May 1995 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household electric tumble dryers.

Directive 95/12/EC
Commission Directive of 23 May 1995 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household washing machines.

In addition there is a directive for labelling of energy effiency of personal cars:
Directive 1999/94/EC
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars This directive require that car manufacturers and dealers:

• attach a fuel consumption and CO2 emissions label to the vehicle;
• produce a fuel consumption and CO2 emissions guide;
• display posters in car showrooms;
• include fuel consumption and CO2 emissions data in promotional materil

The 3 minimum efficiency standard Directives are :

European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/55/EC of the 18 September 2000, on energy efficiency requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting.

Household electric refrigerators, freezers and combinations
Directive 96/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 September 1996 on energy efficiency requirements for household electric refrigerators, freezers and combinations thereof.

Council Directive 93/68/EEC of 22 July 1993, amending the Council Directive 92/42/EEC of 21 May 1992 on efficiency requirements for new hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels.