A +++ had his day from March

Brussels. From March 1st there will be new energy labels for certain electrical devices. There will be new classifications, but the EU energy efficiency markings should also show how economically the budget helpers are. Classifications such as "A ++" or "A +++" are replaced by more understandable classifications for dishwasher, washing machines, cooling and freezer, televisions and monitors- there are still reasons for the citizens to take a closer look:

What is changing for consumers?

The European Consumer Organization BeUC welcomes the innovation because customers benefit from a clearer and more reliable labeling. "To see that the new label will soon replace the old is a victory for consumers," said the organization. According to their statements, there were no more devices in the lower old classes, so that an “A +” fridge was de facto one of the most inefficient on the market.

The supporters of the consumers also point out that there will be both old and new labels in the future, since the new rules initially do not apply to all products. If in doubt, they recommend that they only look for new labels, as they are more precise.

Which new labels are introduced and why?

The previous scale remains, but the categories get different names-now from "A" to "G". The EU Commission justifies the reform with the fact that more and more energy-efficient products are being developed, but the difference between classes "A ++" and "A +++" is less obvious to consumers. The Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV) sees it similarly: it was hardly possible to assess which types are really more efficient.

What do the new efficiency classes mean?

Nothing changes in the basic principle: In addition, there should be a color scale from dark green (very good) to red (very bad), which enables quick orientation to how energy-efficient a product is. Depending on the product category, there are different calculation bases. For refrigerators, the efficiency is measured, for example, how much they fit and whether they have a freezer. The repair effort is also included.

Can consumers convert the new classes one to one?

No, you cannot simply convert the categories. Previous "A +++" devices fall into the "C" category. Most of the top class devices are available in "D" and some manage only "E" according to VZBV. The new class "A" should initially remain completely empty so that the manufacturers have an incentive to innovate.

What devices are it?

In particular, there are five product groups: refrigerators, dishwasher, washing machines, electronic displays and lamps. Flybules and other light sources will only receive new awards from September 1st. Beuc's consumer representatives criticize the fact that the new names come later for many devices. For example, the boiler and heaters, for example, only had the not so new labels in 2025.

What are the tasks of retail?

From March the new labels must be physically attached within 14 working days and marked on the Internet.