Energy Label Marks 50th Anniversary

The 1973 oil crisis triggered a multi-faceted policy response, including first steps in 1976 towards what later became the well-known 𝐄𝐔 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥.

50 years ago, on 4 May 1976, a Council recommendation on the rational use of energy for electrical household appliances was adopted. It was the first time an EU measure addressed informing the public about the energy consumption of appliances. It called on EU countries to introduce standardised energy labels for refrigerators, washing machines, cookers, televisions and more.

50 years on, Europe is dealing with the second fossil fuel supply crisis within 5 years. Energy efficient product legislation is still playing its part, informing consumers, but also helping reduce our energy dependence and our energy bills. The Commission estimates that 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨  €317 in expenditures per year (in 2024 prices) from more energy efficient products alone, as estimated by the latest Ecodesign Impact Accounting report.

The first product with an EU energy label, refrigerators, are today regulated in 80 jurisdictions around the globe.  Along the way, EU energy labels have accommodated also non-energy criteria, such as reparability or other consumer relevant information. 

Learn more about the history of 

• Energy labelling here https://energy-efficient-products.ec.europa.eu/ecodesign-and-energy-label/understanding-energy-label_en#the-history-of-the-label-in-a-timeline
• Product efficiency policy more generally in this "Review of EU product energy efficiency policies: What have we achieved in 40 years?": https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652623026008