Recently, the European Consumer Organization BEUC published a study that evaluates the financial savings resulting from Ecodesign and Energy Labelling. The study’s results are based on calculations of the total cost of ownership of home appliances for an average European household, which exemplarily consists of a couple with one child owning 20 appliances and 45 light bulbs. The study aims to bring clear evidence of the financial and other benefits from Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Directives. These are the central insights:
- Due to Ecodesign and respective EU laws that allow manufacturers to produce more energy-sufficient products, the average household can save up to 332 € each year – even without any particular energy-saving efforts.
- If consumers purchased the most energy efficient products that are currently available, for instance those in the top class of the EU Energy Label, a household’s savings might increase to over 450 € per year.
- Combining the effects of all relevant Ecodesign regulations being in effect and purchase decisions aligned to Energy Labelling, the average household could save more than 514 € each year.
The policy recommendations based on these results include the further promotion of Ecodesign by the European Commission as to timely put forward the Ecodesign Working Plan 2015-17. This should also entail more energy-efficient and consumer-friendly product requirements regarding an increased durability, reparability and upgradeability of goods.
Source: BEUC
More information, factsheet, the study and summary