What is an energy label?

Energy labels provide comparable information on a product’s energy consumption, water use, noise emissions, battery life, screen size, repairability, and more. This helps customers make informed choices when buying certain electrical products and equipment.

What to include on an energy label

In the United Kingdom, energy labels on products must include:

• the product's energy efficiency class (A-G)
• annual energy consumption
• other relevant performance characteristics, often in pictogram format
• the product's model number
• the supplier's name or trademark

The graphics on the energy label use a ranking scale to convey information about the energy efficiency of a particular model through colours, arrows, and letters of the alphabet.

The A-G scale ranks appliances from best (A) to the worst (G), while a corresponding colour code uses green to denote 'more efficient' and red for 'less efficient.' The layout of labels and information required can differ significantly between products.

Product Information Sheet

The energy label must be supported by a Product Information Sheet (PIS) or fiche, which provides data relating to the specific model of the appliance. The PIS must be included in all product brochures, or if brochures are not provided, in any other literature supplied with the product.

Where can I get the energy labels and product information sheet from?

It is the supplier’s responsibility to provide the energy labels and the product information sheet free of charge to dealers. These should accompany each appliance, but if they are missing, you can request them from your supplier, who must send them within five working days of your request.

While suppliers are responsible for implementing the labelling, retailers must ensure that the label is affixed to the appliance and that the product information is available for consumers to see, including an electronic version online.

You can create an energy label on the GOV.UK website.

All appliances in scope which are first placed on the market within Northern Ireland must be registered on the European Product Registry for Energy Labels (EPREL) database. This public database is accessible to everyone and local businesses are encouraged to use it.

With the introduction of a QR code on the top right of the label, retailers or customers can access the label as well as additional information about the product model, such as data relating to:

• dimensions
• specific features
• test results (depending on the appliance)

Download an example of an energy label (PDF, 67K).