One major slogan used to advertise vacuum cleaners has been to tout power consumption in watts. This is misleading because wattage is no reflection of a vacuum cleaner's vacuum power. In fact, vacuum cleaners with high wattage consume more power than low-wattage machines which often have the same vacuum power. The decisive factor for functionality is dust pick up, which can also be guaranteed at wattages in the lower range.
As of 1 September 2014 only vacuum cleaners with a wattage of less than 1600 may be made available for sale. The aim is to further reduce households' power consumption and to prevent consumer fraud. After 1 September 2017 the maximum allowable power consumption for vacuum cleaners is 900 watts. The requirements apply to new products on the market. Devices which are already on the market may continue to be sold. There are already devices available on the market which comply with the standards for 2017. Product tests done by Stiftung Warentest have shown that the best vacuum cleaners are those with a power consumption of 1200 watts. The newest test winner in 2014 actually only consumes 870 watts. When compared to the current trend, the EU guidelines will result in a savings of about 18 billion kilowatt hours by 2020, which is the equivalent output of roughly five power stations.
The new regulation requires producers to provide proof that their vacuum cleaners are fully functional. The EU Ecodesign Directive therefore not only stipulates minimum requirements for energy consumption, it also addresses dust pick up on carpets and hard floors and imposes limits on noise emissions. To extend the device's service life, the operational motor lifetime must be greater than or equal to 500 hours, and its hose must meet specific requirements as concerns durability.
The new energy label provides good guidance when making a purchase. As with washing machines and refrigerators, all vacuum cleaners which are placed on the market as of 1 September 2014 must bear this label. For the first time the label will convey the two most important quality features of a vacuum cleaner: dust pick up and dust emissions class. Based on a scale ranging from A to G, one can easily see how well the device picks up dust on hard floors or carpets and its level of dust retention. The label also classifies the device into the well-known energy efficiency classes on a scale of A-G, and it shows its annual energy consumption and sound power level in decibels. As improvements in energy efficiency are expected, energy efficiency classes A+, A++ and A+++ will be introduced starting September 2017. The energy label will then feature only Classes A+++ to D.
Further information:
Regulation (EU) No. 666/2013 with regard to ecodesign requirements for vacuum cleaners (an implementing measure under the EC Ecodesign Directive) and Regulation (EU) No. 665/2013 with regard to energy labelling of vacuum cleaners were adopted in 2013. They are based on a scientific study and a decision-making/consultation procedure which included producers and consumer and environmental organisations.
Click to enlarge