Why are labels not sustainable?

       

Further reading

• Energy Labels and Standards (20)
• ECEEE on the Eco-design Directive for energy using products (EuP) (70)
• The Eco-design Directive for Energy Using Products (21)

The European Energy Label System (A-G) is falling apart

..and it is a shame! Now is your chance to help pull the pieces together again and begin with voicing your view in the questionnaire open till March 2 (2007). The old system has been a model for many in the world except for the fact that it was not following technology development.

So that is why a system, in which European taxpayers, have invested millions and that has obvious communication qualities with Letters (A=good to G=bad), Arrows (short=efficient to long=inefficient) and Colours (green=good to red=bad), has deteriorated and had to come up with A+ and A++ when the ranges where exhausted. In Australia they put in a revision of their star-system, which managed to maintain the signals to customers.

There is, as eceee points out, a bigger need than ever to make a system that works. Whatever comes out the procedure it is important the labelling should never assume that technological development stops or for that matter that there will not be a need also in the future to promote further development.