Electricity Saving Special Part 2: The Energy Label 2021

Saving electricity is the big topic in the fall/winter of 2022/23.

Have you ever wondered which are the biggest power guzzlers in your household and which appliances and habits are actually the easiest and most energy-saving?

If you’re like many others, you’ve come to the right place. We have compiled a simple and easy to understand series on the subject of saving electricity and would like to convey all the important information to you as simply and understandably as possible.

The second part of the series on saving electricity is about the 2021 energy label.

The new labels classify appliances into different energy efficiency classes than the old energy labels, which can cause confusion.

This is best illustrated by the example of televisions: while the majority were classified in the top categories (A – A+++) on the old labels, most are now only found in classes G to F on the new energy labels. This can understandably cause confusion.

How can this be?

We bring light into the darkness so that you can make the right product choice towards an energy-efficient electrical appliance when making your next purchase decision and benefit from the great savings potential.

In this article you will learn the following:

• What is an energy label
  
• What information an energy label contains
  
• What are the differences between the old and the new energy label
  
• Which product categories need an energy label and its characteristics
  
• Know and compare energy labels on televisions

What is an energy label?

The European energy label is a label that indicates the energy efficiency of a product. The label is required by law for certain products sold in the European Union.

Most of us have long been familiar with the colored energy labels on products like refrigerators, washing machines and televisions, but these have taken on a new format and scale since 2021.

Why the new energy label 2021?

The old energy labels were still based on reference appliances from 1998, which is why more and more new appliances were classified in the top efficiency class. This led to the extension of the scale to the “A+++” class.

The new, streamlined labeling will eliminate the A-plus system and return to a simple A-G scheme. The much higher standards required for an A rating will be difficult to achieve, prompting manufacturers and research departments to continue innovating for efficiency.

The most important facts about the 2021 energy label in brief

• NEW Efficiency class A – G (A+ / A++ / A+++ disappear)
  
• Stricter requirements for all energy efficiency classes (many downgrades of equipment by 2-3 classes).
  
• A-classification currently still almost unattainable, therefore best devices on the market classified as B
  
• QR code is mandatory in the EU, not mandatory in Switzerland

What does the 2021 energy label show?

The energy label is intended to help consumers make cost- and energy-conscious appliance choices as easily as possible.

At first glance, you can see the energy efficiency of the labeled appliance using a traffic light scale from red to green, and the energy efficiency class is indicated with a letter (A – G).

In addition, the following information is provided:

• QR code: Online retrieval of device details in EU database
  
• Manufacturer and model name
  
• Power consumption (different scale depending on product category)
  
• Supplementary category-dependent product information (e.g. capacity, volume, …)

Which product categories with energy label 2021?

The new energy labels have been mandatory for the following product groups since March 1, 2021.

For the other product groups such as air conditioners, dryers, vacuum cleaners, water heaters, etc., the introduction of the new labels will follow in 2023 at the earliest.

• TV sets and electronic displays
  
• Dishwasher
  
• Washing machines/washer dryers
  
• Refrigerators and freezers

As a multimedia specialty store, we want to focus mainly on the energy labels of the category TV sets and electronic displays.

For the remaining device categories, please refer to the following sources of information:

• Energy Experts by EKZ: detailed information about energy labels
  
• TopTen: Product database for energy-efficient electrical appliances

New energy label 2021 for televisions and monitors

OLED TV? 4K or 8K? LCD TV with LED zone dimming? LCD with LED edge lighting? Virtually all TV models are now classified in the rather poor energy classes G to E by the new 2021 energy labels.

The new energy label includes energy consumption and scale for both SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) and HDR (High Dynamic Range) and now indicates kWh (kilowatt hours) per 1000 hours of operation.

In addition to rescaling the TV’s energy efficiency class, the new label will include energy consumption and scaling for SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) and HDR (High Dynamic Range) will be included.

The power consumption in watts can be derived directly from the number on the label (kWh/1000h). You can calculate your expenses (per 1000 hours) by multiplying the kWh number by your kWh price. If you watch an average of 4 hours of TV per day, this equals 1460 hours per year.

Scan the QR code to get more information about each TV model, including standby consumption details.

Why different power consumption for SDR and HDR?

Movies, TV shows and games are increasingly available in HDR format, which significantly increases energy consumption, especially for LCD TVs with LED backlighting. This is because the LED backlight becomes more intense when the LCD TV receives an HDR signal detects. An OLED TV controls light at the pixel level, so energy consumption only increases when the HDR version of the movie has a higher overall brightness in the picture than the SDR version of the same movie.

An 8K TV usually consumes more energy than a comparable 4K TV because it has lower light efficiency.

Why have many TVs dropped from Class A to G?

Due to the stricter rules for the newer 2021 energy label, almost all TVs have been placed in lower energy classes. According to TopTen, the most energy-efficient TVs in standard mode are currently found in energy class E, but most are still in classes F and G. The selection of TVs in higher efficiency classes will increase in the coming years, however, as TV manufacturers will increasingly offer energy-efficient sets.

Of course, this does not mean that TVs with the new 2021 energy label and the lower energy class are inferior in quality.

The shift in efficiency classes is primarily intended as an incentive for manufacturers to develop more efficient equipment in the future. Whether this will have a negative impact on the possible top picture qualities remains to be seen.

Example 55 inch LCD TV

Let’s take a 55-inch TV as an example: to move from energy class G to F, the 55-inch TV would have to consume less than about 80 W, while in energy class A it would have to consume less than about 30 W. Before the changes took effect March 1, 2021, a 55-inch TV in energy class A was allowed to consume about 110 W.

TV in energy class F compared with TV from class G

So that you know the difference between a TV in class F or G the next time you buy a TV, we have compared two comparable LED and OLED models here.

55 inch LED TVs

Model	Size	Energy class SDR	Annual consumption (kWh)*	Annual electricity costs 2022 (CHF)**
TCL 55P725	55″	E	88	19
Panasonic TX-55HXW604	55″	G	120	25

55 inch OLED TVs

Model	Size	Energy class SDR	Annual consumption (kWh)*	Annual electricity costs 2022 (CHF)**
LG OLED55A29LA	55″	F	105	22
Lion picture v.55 OLED	55″	G	162	34

Conclusion: Energy labels are good, but must be interpreted with a sense of proportion

Finally, it can be said that energy labels are very useful and helpful, especially for large power guzzlers that are switched on without interruption.

When buying large household appliances and appliances that are permanently in operation, it is worth taking a look at the energy label and, if necessary, the higher investment.

A new categorization after more than 20 years with the introduction of energy labels in 2021 was also certainly a step in the right direction.

However, if we take a closer look at the energy labels on TV sets and compare them, we have to realize that the consumption depends very much on the operating modes and the broadcasts.

As is often the case, the operating time ultimately plays the biggest role.

For “normal” daily consumption in the private sector, the slightly better energy classes for televisions do not yet offer any great savings potential.

The situation is different for screens that are permanently in operation, such as digital signage screens. The hours added up over the year can have a big impact on electricity consumption and associated costs.

It remains to be seen in which direction the manufacturers will move and how quickly they can and want to move away from the deep-red classification.

Disclaimer

This article is not a scientific paper. We are aware that many assumptions and simplifications have been made regarding performance and power consumption. The aim of the article is to give the reader an overview and a sense of the power consumption of different electrical appliances in the home to help him save electricity. The information was compiled from various sources with the aim of summarizing the most important facts about electricity consumption in a comprehensible way. Without claim to completeness.