The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 provide the new Ecodesign and Energy Labelling requirements for certain energy-related products that are placed on the market in Great Britain. They also update and mirror the technical requirements of several equivalent EU regulations to enable consumers to discern the most energy efficient products on the market. The Regulations:
Ecodesign measures regulate energy-using products to ensure they meet generic or specific measures relating to their use of energy. This can be done through setting minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) along with other requirements such as resource efficiency for energy-related products.
MEPS mandate the energy efficiency requirements of a product within certain timeframes and have the effect of pushing the least energy efficient products out of the market, which over time, raises the average energy efficiency of all products within a product category. Resource efficiency requirements set requirements relating to products’ durability, repairability, and recyclability at end-of-life to improve resource productivity.
Energy Labelling regulations ensure clear and consistent information on products’ energy usage is readily available. This helps consumers make informed purchase decisions, encouraging the uptake of the most energy efficient products and encourages competition between manufacturers in relation to improving energy efficiency. Suppliers are obliged to provide accurate energy labels to dealers who are required to make them clearly visible to consumers at the point of sale.
Together, Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policies aim to reduce the energy-use, carbon footprint and wider environmental impacts of energy-related products and to save consumers money on their energy bills.
