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Vacuum cleaners become more energy-efficient

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Vacuum cleaners become more energy-efficient

As of today, vacuum cleaners have to meet EU-wide energy and performance requirements. Consumers buying a vacuum cleaner will also receive labelling information on efficiency, energy use and performance. Stricter wattage requirements will reduce the energy use. 
 
This is part of a package of EU ecodesign and energy labelling measures affecting a wide range of everyday consumer products such as washing machines, fridges and dishwashers. These aim to reduce the considerable costs of monthly energy bills and help mitigate climate change. 
 
Making vacuum cleaners more efficient will save nineteen terawatt-hours per year by 2020, estimates say. 
BEUC is confident that these measures will also benefit consumers. It will reduce our electricity bills and improve product performance by setting minimum ‘dust pick up’ requirements and limiting the dust recreated by the machine itself. Until now, no such legal limits existed.  
 
To get some facts straight – there is no direct relationship between the high wattage of a vacuum cleaner and it performing well. The caps will not mean new vacuum cleaners will perform worse. 
 
There is more to it – appliances must function well, but not at the cost of consumers’ ears. So noise limits have also been introduced. 
 
Perhaps most importantly, they attempt to phase out ‘early failing’ appliances by minimum durability requirements for the motor and the hose. 
 
Consumers will be able to compare and choose which appliance best fits their needs thanks to the new labels. It will inform consumers of the appliances’ energy efficiency, annual consumption rates, cleaning performance, dust re-emission class and noise level.
 
BEUC has been supportive of ambitious provisions throughout the development of these measures. See: http://beuc.eu/publications/2012-00692-01-e.pdf