Local space heaters (LH) are heating products that heat the room they are installed in. The products range from simple open fireplaces fuelled by wood to tube heaters used for commercial and agricultural applications. The variety of products led to two Ecodesign regulations, separating the solid fuel devices from oil/ gas-fired and electric products. Energy labelling also applies to LH, except electric, tube and luminous heaters.
Due to this diversity, LSH Ecodesign requirements are set in two different legal acts, one addressing liquid, gas and electric LSHs (Regulation (EU) 2024/1103), and the other solid fuel LSHs (Regulation (EU) 2015/1185). There is however a single Energy Labelling regulatory act (Regulation (EU) 2015/1186) with a scope different to that of the Ecodesign requirements since it excludes electric LSHs.
Examples of Local Heaters
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2024
Scope
The following table shows some examples of products in scope and out of scope in the Ecodesign Regulation:
| In Scope | Out of Scope |
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Check the complete list in the Ecodesign Regulation and Energy Labelling Regulation
Ecodesign Requirements
Ecodesign requirements apply to local space heaters sold in the EU.
These requirements are mandatory from 1 January 2022 for solid fuel local space heaters and from 1 January 2018 for other local space heaters. They cover energy efficiency, pollutant emissions and product information requirements.
Energy Label
Local space heaters with a nominal heat output of 50 kW or less are sold with energy labels as of 2018. The rating scale ranges from A++ (most efficient, only applicable to solid fuel local space heaters that use pellets) to G (least efficient).
The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) offers more detailed information on the product such as the energy efficiency value.
| Understanding the Local Space Heater Energy Label | |
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Eco-Tips and Tricks
- Check your indoor temperature. An increase of 1°C will increase your energy bill by typically 7%.
- With exception for airing out, keep your windows closed during the heating season.
- Use your heating controls to adapt the temperature levels to your presence. For instance, when not at home, you may want to slightly decrease the temperature.
- Wood stove: only use dry wood with low moisture content (for more eco-tips on wood stoves, click here)
Highlights
EU ecodesign requirements will save up to 78 TWh by 2030, equivalent to the entire primary energy consumption of Lithuania in 2021. In the long term, it will save consumers close to €9 billion per year by 2030. Replacing a conventional gas-fired stove by a highly efficient gas-fired stove can save up to €1300 over the lifetime of the product. Lower emissions will also improve air quality in Europe and reduce related health problems.
Facts & Figures
This graphic shows the estimated sales, stock, energy consumption (primary, electric or fuel), greenhouse gas emissions, consumer expenses and business revenues for years 2010 and 2030. The estimated values inside the graph bars are those from the EIA ECO-scenario, they include the effects of Ecodesign and Energy Labelling measures.
The difference with the business as usual (BAU) scenario without these estimated measures is shown next to the graph bar. These figures indicate the estimated savings obtained due to the measures.
Product: Local Space Heaters Measures: Regulation (EU) 2024/1103 & 2015/1185, Regulation (EU) 2015/1186 |
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| The striped lines in the charts show the 'Effect of the Regulations' |
SALES (x1000 units)  | STOCK (x1000 units)  | Electricity (TWh/a)  |
GHG-EMISSION  | CONSUMER EXPENSES  | REVENUES  |
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
In 2020, 333 million local space heaters (LSHs) were in use in the EU27, of which 78.8% electric, 20.5% using solid fuels, 0.6% gaseous fuels and 0.1% liquid fuels.
The average EU27 household used 1.25 local space heater in 2020.
The LSHs produced a total of 245 TWh/a of heat, which is 10% of the total EU27 space heating demand (2360 TWh).
Stock and load weighted average efficiencies:
Electric LSHs in 2020: 77.9% electric efficiency (+1.6%points; +2.1% compared to no measures).
Electric LSHs in 2030: 87.8% electric efficiency (+8.4%points; +10.6% compared to no measures).
Non-Electric LSHs in 2020: 67.8% primary (fuel) efficiency (+1.0%points; +1.5% compared to no measures).
Non-Electric LSHs in 2030: 75.7% primary (fuel) efficiency (+5.7%points; +8.1% compared to no measures).
The regulations are projected to save 16.8 TWh of electricity (-12% compared to no measures) and 18.0 TWh of fuel (-9%) in 2030.
The combined savings of 35 TWh in 2030 are 0.32% of the total EU27 final energy consumption in 2021 (10922 TWh), and close to the consumption of Estonia (32 TWh in 2021).
Due to Ecodesign and Energy Labelling measures, EU27 users are projected to save € 3.1 billion on local space heaters in 2030 (-4.6% compared to no measures).
In 2030, the annual household expenses for local space heaters decrease from € 270 to € 260.
Expected Savings
The improved product quality leads to an increase of product prices. The highest additional annual acquisition costs for local space heaters are expected in the period 2022—2025 (2.7 billion euros per year). These additional costs are mainly caused by increased prices for wood-fueled appliances that include open and closed fireplaces, stoves and cookers.
Costs of electric appliances are not expected to change significantly, except for minor increases for electric storage heaters. On the long term, the additional acquisition costs are more than compensated for by lower energy costs. Projected EU27 total consumer expenditure savings for LSHs in 2030 are € 3.1 bn, corresponding to € 10 per year per household.
Consumer Expenditure Saving on Local Space Heaters: Additional Acquisition Costs and Savings on Energy Costs
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2024
Suppliers
Suppliers shall ensure that:
(a) such local space heater is provided with a printed label in the format and containing the information set out in point 1 of Annex III and conforming to the energy efficiency classes set out in Annex II;
(b) an electronic label in the format and containing the information set out in point 1 of Annex III and conforming to the energy efficiency classes set out Annex II is made available to dealers for such local space heater model;
(c) a product fiche in accordance with Annex IV, is provided for such local space heater;
(d) an electronic product fiche, in accordance with Annex IV, is made available to dealers for such local space heater model;
(e) the technical documentation, as set out in Annex V, is provided on request to the authorities of the Member States and to the Commission;
(f) any advertisement related to a specific such local space heater model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the energy efficiency class for that model;
(g) any technical promotional material concerning a specific such local space heater model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the energy efficiency class for that model.
From 1 January 2022 suppliers placing on the market or putting into service flueless heaters using solid fuels or open to chimney heaters using solid fuels shall ensure that:
(a) such local space heater is provided with a printed label in the format and containing the information set out in point 1 of Annex III and conforming to the energy efficiency classes set out in Annex II;
(b) an electronic label in the format and containing the information set out in point 1 of Annex III and conforming to the energy efficiency classes set out Annex II is made available to dealers for such local space heater model;
(c) a product fiche in accordance with Annex IV, is provided for such local space heater;
(d) an electronic product fiche, in accordance with Annex IV, is made available to dealers for such local space heater model;
(e) the technical documentation, as set out in Annex V, is provided on request to the authorities of the Member States and to the Commission;
(f) any advertisement related to a specific such local space heater model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the energy efficiency class for that model;
(g) any technical promotional material concerning a specific such local space heater model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the energy efficiency class for that model.
Dealers
Dealers shall ensure that:
(a) each local space heater bears, at the point of sale, the label provided by suppliers in accordance with Article 3, on the outside of the front of the local space heater, in such a way as to be clearly visible;
(b) local space heaters offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase, where the end-user cannot be expected to see the product displayed, are marketed with the information provided by the suppliers in accordance with Annex VI, except where the offer is made through the internet, in which case the provisions of Annex VII shall apply;
(c) any advertisement for a specific local space heater model which contains energy-related or price information includes a reference to the energy efficiency class of that model;
(d) any technical promotional material concerning a specific local space heater model which describes its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the energy efficiency class of that model.
Policy
Ongoing legislative work
Please check the ongoing initiatives on the Have your say portal.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1103 of 18 April 2024 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards Ecodesign requirements for local space heaters and separate related controls and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1188.
Regulation (EU) 2015/1186 of 24 April 2015 supplementing Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the Energy Labelling of local space heaters (Text with EEA relevance)
Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1185 of 24 April 2015 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to Ecodesign requirements for solid fuel local space heaters (Text with EEA relevance)
As from 1 July 2025
Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1103 of 18 April 2024 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards Ecodesign requirements for local space heaters and separate related controls and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1188 as corrected
Disclaimer: please pay attention to possible updates/changes as indicated in the Official Journal (green dot)