By providing information on the energy consumption of an appliance, energy labels enable you to make purchases knowing all the important information.
You therefore need to know how to decipher them. Discover the list of the most common labels.
Energy labels on electrical household appliances
The mandatory EU energy labels are the most common. They classify dishwashers, air conditioning, televisions, electric heaters, etc. using a scale of letters and colours ranging from those that consume the least energy (in green) to those that consume the most energy (in red).
With regard to the letters, since March 2021 the classes have ranged from A (the most economical) to G (the least economical). Forget about the old classes, from A+++, A++, A+ to D!
Learn how to decipher household appliance labels
Energy ranking for heating installations
Since September 2015, a European directive has imposed energy labels on boilers using a classification from A to G that is based on the same principle as the labels used for electrical household appliances.
Gas boilers
Only condensing boilers satisfy the label's strict criteria and are awarded the Class A energy label.
If your boiler predates 2015, then it may have the Belgian HR+ label (traditional heating boilers) or HR Top label (condensing boilers).
Oil boilers
Pre-2015 installations have the Optimaz or Optimaz Elite label:
- The Optimaz label applies to boilers with an efficiency of less than 93%
- The Optimaz Elite label applies to boilers with an efficiency of less than 97.5%
Labels for air conditioning and refrigeration
Eurovent Certification is based on European and international standards for classifying the performance of air conditioning and cooling installations.
The energy labelling developed by Eurovent Certita distinguishes energy classes from A + for the most efficient products to E for the least efficient.
Energy labels for sustainable installations
The European Union Ecolabelling Board has an eco-label that applies to high-efficiency heat pumps which work with environmentally friendly cooling gases. It applies to heat pumps operating on natural gas or electricity.
The Quest label enables the distinction between small installations with renewable energy that satisfy extremely precise technical requirements. In Belgium there are 3 Quest/Construction Quality labels:
- SOLAR PV for installers of solar panels
- SOLAR THERMAL for installers of solar boilers
- HEATPUMP for installers of heat pumps