energy label
Energy Consumption and EU Energy Labels
As part of the initiative to reduce energy consumption in Europe, the EU introduced energy labels a few years ago. While these labels are already widely used in the private sector, their introduction is also being gradually extended to the commercial market. Starting from July 1, 2016, the first phase of the regulation will come into effect, and the energy label will become mandatory for refrigeration and freezing equipment in the commercial market. But what does this mean for your business? In short, only devices with low energy consumption that are appropriately labeled to indicate their energy consumption will be allowed to be sold in the future.
Which devices are subject to the new requirements?
Initially, the energy label will be introduced for refrigeration and freezing equipment. However, it is not mandatory for all refrigeration and freezing devices. The label generally applies to (rapid) refrigeration and freezing devices used to store food. This means that devices with a display or show function, such as glass door cabinets, showcases, freezers, or salad bars, are not subject to the labeling requirement.
The regulation also only applies to devices with forced-air or ventilated cooling. Therefore, purely static devices that do not use a supporting fan are excluded from the regulation. The refrigeration and freezing units in our cells also do not require an energy label. There are additional criteria that determine whether a device falls under this regulation. If you are unsure whether your devices are affected, please contact us. We are happy to provide clarification.
What changes from July 1, 2016?
From this date, the affected devices must comply with the energy consumption requirements set by the EU. However, this has no impact on Combisteel devices. All our devices meet the required standards and can be sold as usual. They will receive an energy label with a rating from A to G, with A indicating the lowest energy consumption. Additionally, the user manual will be supplemented with details on energy consumption. This includes information on the type of refrigerant, global warming potential (GWP), net volume in liters, and annual electricity consumption in kWh. This information will also be provided on our website, and dealers can access this data with a login.
Comparison of Energy Labels
With the introduction of energy labels, comparing devices will be easier. It is important to compare devices based on the correct data. Pay particular attention to whether the devices were tested in the same climate class. Climate classes refer to the ambient temperature under which the device was tested. A device with an A label in class 3 may no longer have an A label if tested in class 4. Our devices are generally tested in climate class 4, with an ambient temperature of 30°C, and some models even in class 5.
In the coming months, we will implement these changes step by step and display the energy labels on our website.
We understand that this is a transition and that some questions may still be open. If you need further information or have any questions, we are of course at your disposal.
