Energy labelling: Which products does it apply to?
If you manufacture or sell certain household electrical equipment you must label it with its energy efficiency rating. Known as the European Energy Label (EEL), household electrical products that you must label include:
- Air conditioing equipment
- Dishwashers
- Domestic ovens and range hoods
- Electric ovens*
- Lamps (directional, household and fluorescent)
- Refrigeration appliances
- Space heaters
- Televisions
- Tumble driers
- Vacuum cleaners
- Washer/driers
- Washing machines
- Water heaters
- Water and space heaters - solar devices
- Temperature controls for space heaters
EEL labels must show how energy efficient the appliance is and how much electricity the product uses in kilowatt hours. Ratings run from A-G, with A+++ best (a green label) and G worst (a red label). Categories A+, A++ and A+++ distinguish particularly energy-saving products.
While EEL labelling is only compulsory for some domestic products at the moment, the scheme is set to grow - adding boilers and vacuum cleaners, for example - so you should consider fulfilling the scheme's requirements from the start of product design.
*You do not need to label certain ovens including:
- portable ovens weighing under 18 kilograms, provided they are not designed for built-in installations
- microwave ovens and microwave combination ovens
- ovens with a cavity width and depth of less than 250 millimetres, or that are less than 120 millimetres high
- ovens without adjustable temperature control.
Further information
- Guidance, post Brexit, from the department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Read the detailed guidance from the National Measurement Office (NMO) on the GOV.UK website.