However, since the labels were first introduced, some 15 years ago, European manufacturers have dramatically improved the energy efficiency of their products and most of the products you see are now A-rated.

In 2003 the EU amended the label for fridge-freezers to allow A+ or A++ grades as a way of distinguishing models that would otherwise have all been A. They then decided that the label needed to be amended for all products to make it easier to understand; to allow the more efficient products to be better differentiated; and to extend the labelling requirements to other products.

The new design

The new label design was agreed earlier this year. It will still have the same coloured bands, with dark green being the best and red the worst, but appliances that are better than ‘A’ could be rated A+, A++ and A+++. There will be separate regulations for each product type that specify which bands may be used and how they are calculated. Most products will only show seven classes (eg A+ to F) but where there is a greater range of efficiencies the label might show all 10 (A+++ to G). The new requirement states that any advertisement or technical promotional material for a specific model must include its energy efficiency information.

At the moment in the UK, the label comes in two parts – a coloured template and a monochrome sticker with the specific details for that model. This is because the label has to be translated into different languages so it is easier to print the templates in different languages and then add the stickers. However the new labels will be supplied as a single coloured label.

The main difference is that instead of text explaining the different aspects in different languages (the volume of the freezer, the efficiency of the spin cycle, the water consumption etc) there will be pictograms such as a carton (with the fridge volume in litres) or a tap (with litres of water consumption) or a plate and cutlery (place setting) etc. The noise level (in decibels) is now mandatory and that too has a pictogram. But the average annual energy consumption will still be in kWh/annum because it’s the one Latin word that everyone understands.

What’s coming…

We are expecting four new regulations to be published together at the end of this year for fridge-freezers, washing machines, dishwashers and televisions. One year later it will be compulsory for manufacturers to supply the new labels with these products and four months after that it will be mandatory for retailers to display them and for advertising to include the energy information.

However, 20 days after the publication of the regulation manufacturers may choose to supply the new label on a voluntary basis. So, for instance, super efficient washing machines might come with the new label while other products have the old one. And the television label will be phased, with manufacturers being able to use a later version if they need it.

Then in the next year or so we should see revised labels for ovens and washer-dryers and new labels for water heaters (including showers), coffee machines and vacuum cleaners.

So while the new labels are easier to understand than the ones we have now, there is some scope for confusion during the transition. Not only will labels change at different times for different products but the same product could have a different label in another store if it had been supplied at an earlier date.

The key thing to remember is that green is always more efficient. So whatever labels you see, with pictures or with text; A to G or A+++ to G (or anything in between), the product with the highest rating against the top dark green band is the most energy efficient.