What energy label does my fire have?

The energy label is now compulsory on all gas fires and wood stoves in the UK.
This familiar strip of colours from red to green, and letters from G to A, indicates how efficient the appliance is that has this label. The greener the label, the greener the appliance.

All fires should now have an energy label to indicate how energy-efficient they are. That is good news because this energy label shows how economically a fire manages energy. And the more economical it is, the better it is for your finances. It is now time for a brief explanation about energy labels.

How is an energy label calculated?

Energy labels are calculated by the manufacturers. The government has compiled strict rules on how exactly to achieve this. But that is where it stops. Measuring and calculating is a task for the manufacturer. It is obligatory to perform these tests, because without the energy label the product cannot be sold. To prevent manufacturers from applying for labels that are too optimistic, the government department in the UK, The Office for Product Safety and Standards, carries out strict controls on the calculated energy labels.

The following energy labels exist

The familiar list with colours and letters is the most common label. It already exists in the energy label world and was introduced by the European Union in 1992. Selected appliances are required to have the label by law, otherwise you cannot sell them in the European Union. It is necessary to pay attention to this label, because the rules were renewed in 2010. This is a useful thing to know and explains why an appliance with an energy label dating before 2010 that has a category A (the highest attainable at that time) can be more efficient than an appliance with a label A ++ dated after 2010. So, if you encounter a label that you are unsure about, check the date.

In addition to the label from the EU, you may also encounter a different label on some appliances. We list them for you below.

Swiss energy label

Switzerland is outside the EU and therefore has its own legislation in this area. The Swiss energy label is very similar to that of the EU. However, in Switzerland it is compulsory on many more appliances than within the EU. For example, you may encounter a coffee machine in a Swiss store that has an energy label, and yet this is not mandatory within the EU. That label is a Swiss energy label.

Energy Star

This is an American label that has its origins in computer screens. The label indicates that you are dealing with an energy-efficient display. Meanwhile, you will also encounter the label on computer equipment, printers and copiers. Energy Star imposes standards particularly on the energy consumption of these devices in standby mode.

Ecolabel and TCO

These two labels are not so common in the UK. Ecolabel mainly sets requirements for energy and water use. We only see it on some dishwashers. The same applies to the Swedish TCO; you may encounter it on some computers and peripherals and on some types of office furniture.

What does an energy label mean for you?

Besides the energy label, we also use the energy-efficiency class. Clearly, an energy label provides information on the use of energy by the appliance that has the label. What matters is how efficiently an appliance manages energy. Everyone will understand that a large freezer in a kitchen uses more energy than a small refrigerator in a student room.

However, that freezer may have an A ++ label, while the refrigerator gets no further than a modest C. The freezer uses its energy much more efficiently than the refrigerator in this example. In general, you should assume that, for comparable devices and for similar use, the appliance with the best energy label is the most efficient.

Maestro 75XTU Eco Wave Fires use energy to generate heat, of course. That is why it makes sense to look at the energy label when purchasing a fire. After all: the more efficient the fire, the lower your energy consumption. For example, a DRU Maestro fire has energy label A, which means it is a fire that ideally combines appearance, atmosphere and function with energy efficiency. Basically: lovely to have in your home and kind to your bank balance.