Making a smart purchase
Ecodesign removes the worst products on the market to save your money.
The Energy Label can help you to make an informed decision by taking into account the energy efficiency of the product that you are buying.
In EPREL (the EU’s energy-related products database) you can also see further features of a product and compare it with the rest of similar products available in the EU market.
A win-win for consumers and the environment
The EU legislation for Energy labels and Ecodesign has been estimated to bring energy savings of approximately 230 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) by 2030. For consumers, this means an average saving of up to €290 per year on their household energy bills.
Ecodesign sets common EU wide minimum standards to eliminate the least performing products from the market, while the Energy Labels provide a clear and simple indication of the energy efficiency and other key features of products at the point of purchase. This makes it easier for consumers to save money on their household energy bills and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the EU.
Read more about how these policies help consumers:
Energy Efficient Products
As a consumer you can view the products that you may be interested in buying.
View the complete list of products that fall under the Ecodesign Directive and Energy Label Framework.
EPREL
EPREL enables consumers to find detailed information about energy labelled products and models. It guides its users towards the most energy-efficient product models while encouraging manufacturers to develop new, more efficient models to appear in the highest and more rewarding ranks. Information on other aspects than a product's energy use, such as its possible water consumption, noise emission, extension of the warranty, availability of spare parts, duration or product support is also provided.
- View specific models of products on EPREL (European Product Registry for Energy Labelling)
Is scanning the QR code on Energy Labels safe?
The short answer is YES, if......
For more details, check the Understanding the Energy Label section.
Public Procurement
Public buyers, as consumers, are concerned by the same interest in energy-efficiency as it contributes to reduce the life-cycle cost of a product. In fact, in accordance with the Energy Efficiency Directive public procurers procurers must take into account Ecodesign and Energy Labelling if they are procuring products that are covered by such requirements. Specifically for products with energy labels, EPREL can be a powerful tool for procurers to find the best deals and meet the requirements to purchase efficient products.
Taxonomy
The taxonomy is a classification system that defines criteria for economic activities that are aligned with a net zero trajectory by 2050 and the broader environmental goals other than climate.
The term "taxonomy" in the context of energy efficiency often refers to the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities. This is a classification system established by the European Union to define which economic activities are considered environmentally sustainable. It aims to guide investments towards projects and activities that contribute to the EU's climate and energy targets for 2030 and the broader objectives of the European Green Deal
For energy efficiency, the EU Taxonomy sets specific criteria that activities must meet to be classified as sustainable. These criteria include:
- Energy performance thresholds: Ensuring that buildings and infrastructure meet high energy efficiency standards.
- Renewable energy integration: Promoting the use of renewable energy sources in various sectors.
- Lifecycle emissions: Considering the total greenhouse gas emissions over the lifecycle of a project or activity
By providing clear guidelines, the EU Taxonomy helps prevent greenwashing, supports companies in becoming more climate-friendly, and facilitates the transition to a sustainable economy.
The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) can indeed serve as a valuable tool for determining the eligibility of products under the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities. Here's how you can use EPREL to guide your taxonomy eligibility assessments:
- Product Registration: Ensure that all energy-related products are registered in the EPREL database. This is mandatory for products that require an EU energy label before they can be placed on the EU market.
- Energy Performance Data: EPREL provides detailed energy performance data for registered products. This includes energy efficiency classes, which are crucial for assessing whether a product meets the energy performance thresholds set by the EU Taxonomy.
- Compliance Verification: Use the data from EPREL to verify that products comply with the specific criteria outlined in the EU Taxonomy. This includes checking for high energy efficiency standards and the integration of renewable energy sources.
- Lifecycle Emissions: EPREL can help you gather information on the lifecycle emissions of products, which is another important criterion for taxonomy eligibility. This ensures that the total greenhouse gas emissions over the lifecycle of a product are considered.
- Transparency and Reporting: EPREL offers a transparent and real-time tool for understanding how products on the EU market are distributed across efficiency classes. This can aid in reporting and demonstrating compliance with the EU Taxonomy.
By leveraging the comprehensive data available in EPREL, you can effectively assess and ensure that your products meet the sustainability criteria set by the EU Taxonomy.
In the context of energy efficiency, "significantly populated" typically refers to energy efficiency classes or categories that have a large number of products or systems falling within them. This term is often used when discussing the distribution of products across different energy efficiency classes, especially in databases like the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL).
For example, in the EPREL database, certain energy efficiency classes (such as A+ and A++) are described as "significantly populated" because a large number of products meet the criteria for these classes.
This means that many products on the market achieve high energy efficiency standards, making these classes densely populated with compliant products.
Understanding which classes are significantly populated can help in:
- Identifying market trends: Seeing which energy efficiency levels are most common.
- Guiding consumer choices: Helping consumers select products that are energy efficient.
- Informing policy and subsidies: Ensuring that incentives and regulations target the most relevant efficiency classes.
Eligibility for public procurement can vary depending on the specific regulations and requirements of the governing body overseeing the procurement process. However, there are some common criteria that generally apply:
- Registration: Companies must often be registered with relevant government databases. For example, in the EU, businesses may need to be registered in the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) system, while in the US, registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) is required.
- Compliance with Legal Requirements: Businesses must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including labor laws, environmental regulations, and anti-corruption measures.
- Financial Stability: Companies must demonstrate financial stability and the ability to fulfill the contract. This may involve providing financial statements, credit ratings, or other proof of financial health.
- Technical Capability: Businesses must show they have the technical expertise, resources, and experience to complete the contract. This can include past performance records, certifications, and references.
- Non-Exclusion: Companies must not be excluded from public procurement due to past misconduct, such as fraud, corruption, or serious breaches of contract.
- Fair and Open Competition: The procurement process must be conducted fairly and openly, ensuring that all potential bidders have equal access to information and opportunities to compete.
These criteria help ensure that public procurement processes are transparent, competitive, and result in the selection of capable and reliable contractors.
Useful Links
Check the list of helpful resources for Consumers:
- TopTen - Topten is a consumer-oriented online search tool, which presents the best models in various product categories. Topten’s key selection criteria are energy efficiency and consumption, while other quality aspects like ressource efficiency and health are also considered.
- Applia - Home Appliances Europe’s guidance on the Energy Labels for suppliers, dealers and consumers