Energy labeling regulations
Starting from March the 1st 2021, the European Union has introduced new energy labels, both for professional and household appliances.
With the aim of adapting the energy efficiency scale to products that, in compliance with the Union indications regarding consumption, have increasingly higher energy performance, the labels and energy classes have been modified in order to make them easier to understand. For this reason the “extended” classes (A+, A++ etc.) have been eliminated, going back in fact to a classification scale ranging from A to G.
This involves a complete reorganization of the energy classes and a consequent repositioning of the equipment according to the new scale. This change may appear to be a downgrade for many products, but this is not the case. For example, a product that according to the old regulations was classified as “A+”, could now even be in class “F”. It is very important to understand that the equipment has not changed and that consumption and efficiency have remained exactly the same. What has changed is only the classification, which has become severe to allow clearer comparisons with the increasingly efficient products that come onto the market year after year.
The professional equipment range
In the professional equipment range, at the moment, the “old type” of labels are still in use (i.e. those referring to the delegated Reg. 2015/1094/EU relating to professional refrigerated storage cabinets and counters) along with the “new type” of labels, referring to the delegated Reg. 2019/2018/EU (professional refrigerating appliances with direct sales function1) and delegated Reg. 2019/2016/EU (wine cellars, chest coolers and freezers, and minibars).
Many products in the professional equipment range are still excluded from the energy labelling regulations: for example washing, cooking, preparation and some categories of refrigeration (blast chillers, static professional refrigerators, dual temperature refrigerators, saladettes with open top for pans insertion, etc.).
Conclusions
In conclusion, while the current energy labels are still in force for professional refrigerated cabinets and counters, a new type of energy labels has been introduced for other kind equipment. The most evident aspect that graphically differentiates this type of labels from those of professional refrigerated cabinets and counters is the presence of a QR Code in the upper right corner: scanning it with a smartphone gives access to the european product database for energy labeling, where the user can obtain additional information on the equipment.
The presence of the QR Code is also a quick way to understand that we are dealing with an energy label based on new standards and therefore with classes that have become more restrictive.
(1) Direct sales function: the intended use of the equipment is to show the product to the customer so that he can choose directly and can then help himself or ask the employee to serve him the product of his choice.
Reg. 2015/1094/EU
Professional refrigeration appliances
Reg. 2019/2018/EU
Supermarket refrigerated cabinets
Beverage coolers
Ice cream freezers
Reg. 2019/2016/EU
Chest freezers
Wine storage appliances
