Brussels, 04/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - As from 2004, consumers will be able to identify refrigerators and freezers which are particularly economical in terms of electricity consumption; when offered for sale they will be labelled A+ and A++. This Commission decision will help consumers make energy savings and thus contribute towards improving the security of the EU's energy supply and help to combat global warming.
When purchasing a refrigerator or freezer, as from 2004 consumers will be able to identify the most energy-efficient models. The success of the energy labelling programme which the Community launched in 1994 for refrigerators is such that manufacturers offer products which are increasingly efficient in terms of consumption. The directive adopted by the Commission on 3 July will help consumers to identify the most efficient equipment, which will be classified as A+ and A++ at points of sale. Other household appliances are already covered by this European energy consumption labelling programme. Consumers should not hesitate to request information about this when planning to buy an oven, a washing machine or a dishwasher. Models consuming the least energy are in class A and those consuming the most are in classes F or G. The new classes A+ and A++ represent the best on the market in terms of energy efficiency.