Starting today, TV buyers in the EU will no longer see A+++ on energy labels. The new, stricter labels specify a TV's energy consumption in both SDR and HDR mode.
Rescaled energy labels
EU is today introducing new, stricter energy labels for appliances, TVs, and other external monitors. Starting September 1, 2021, light bulbs and lamps will also be included – and other products in the coming years.
EU's energy labels will no longer have A+, A++, and A+++ ratings as the scale returns to its former, simpler form: A-G. A TV that used to achieve A+++ under the old rules will typically achieve B or C rating under the new rules as the new scale is much stricter. This is to encourage TV makers to make more energy-efficient TVs in the future, said EU.
- "The original energy label has been very successful, saving an average household in Europe several hundred euros per year and motivating companies to invest into research and development. Until the end of February, over 90% of products were labelled either A+, A++ or A+++. The new system will be clearer for consumers and ensure that businesses continue to innovate and offer even more efficient products. This also helps us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," said Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Energy, EU.
Also read: PS5 consumes 12x more energy than Apple TV during video streaming
The new energy labels will be applicable in all shops and online retailers starting today March 1, 2021.
EU's new energy label lists both SDR and HDR consumption. Photo: Label 2020
SDR and HDR consumption
Besides rescaling the energy efficiency class of the TV, the new label will include energy consumption and scale for both SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) and HDR (High Dynamic Range).
Movies, TV shows and console games are increasingly available in HDR format, which increases energy consumption in especially LCD TVs with LED backlights. That is because the LED backlight intensifies when the LCD TV detects an HDR signal. An OLED TV controls light on the pixel-level so energy consumption will increase only if the HDR version of the movie has higher overall brightness in the picture compared to the SDR version of the same movie.
An 8K TV typically has higher energy consumption than a comparable 4K TV due to lower light efficiency.
In addition, EU's new energy label will include a QR code in the top right corner. By scanning the QR code with a smartphone camera, consumers can find additional information about the product.
More information can be found on label2020.eu.
Facts about the new EU energy labels for TVs
| The new label uses a uniform A-G scale for all products. A+++/A+ will no longer exist
In the upper right corner of the label a QR-Code is introduced which will provide a direct link to the label database of the European Commission supporting transparency and easier market surveillance by national authorities
The energy consumption of the products is shown in a more prominent and uniform way in the middle section of the label
The lower part of the label contains various pictograms which inform about selected product features. Several pictograms are the same as in the old label, some have been revised and a few have been newly introduced |
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