Last Saturday, 26 September 2015, was an important day for the energy transition. After years of debate, the energy label for boilers became mandatory!

The introduction is timely in light of the discussion on reducing the carbon footprint of the heating and cooling sector. Consumers will benefit from a label that allows the direct comparison of functionally equivalent products. The environment and society at large will benefit from a push towards more efficient, less polluting products. As a byproduct, this move is expected to create additional employment in the green sector.

The boiler, usually a product that is overlooked in the basement of buildings is moved to center space. All units sold with a thermal capacity of up to 70kW must be labeled. The end consumer is provided with information on the efficiency of the unit in the average climate zone, the unit’s capacity as well as its sound emissions. Heat pumps will certainly benefit from the label as their most efficient types fulfill the requirements of the ambitious A+++ class already today. 

"The energy label is a powerful tool to guide end consumer, commercial and public investment decisions in heating technology. It should also be used to guide public incentive schemes and information campaigns to reap the full benefit of a highly efficient, highly renewable heating and cooling sector,” states Thomas Nowak, Secretary general of the European heat pump association.

The industry is convinced that this label is a positive outcome of European policy making.

More information at www.ehpa.org