eceee supports keeping the A–G design of the energy label
19 Jun 08 – In a letter to the European Commission, eceee expresses support for the current A–G scale as opposed to an open-ended numerical scale. The numerical scale has been proposed by some stakeholders in the Commission's working group on a possible redesign of the energy label.
eceee understands the European industry's concerns on how a to create dynamic labelling system within the current A–G system, but feels that problems with the current label design can be overcome by effective support and adjustments of the label.
"The bottom line is that it is the consumer who has to react to different marketing signals and the A–G approach is a powerful one", eceee's President Peter Bach and Executive Director Nils Borg say in the letter and give three reasons why the A–G system should be maintained:
- First, it is important to have commonality amongst all labelling schemes and the A–G approach is widely used for the energy certification of buildings and the labelling of new passenger cars, to name but two areas that are outside the labelling Directive.
- Second, consumer research undertaken by the UK has provided compelling evidence that across all the countries surveyed the consumer really has accepted the A–G scheme and again it would be a mistake to change.
- Third, the A–G label can be used in a dynamic situation and can “reward” innovation through giving the consumer an indication of the best-available appliances.
eceee also believes that a fast update of the Appliance Labelling Directive 92/75/EEC is urgently needed to move the existing scales to make them more realistic to today’s technology developments. The current scales are almost meaningless, since in too many cases more than 90 per cent of products sold are A or better. This can be done relatively quickly and can bring about important benefits, eceee says.
Download the letter to the European Commission (pdf).