The importance Energy label. Choose a label for appliances with the best performance
In March last IMQ (company certification for products and companies) launched the first Italian independent laboratory for testing the performance on washing machines. In addition to its place as a reference point for manufacturers, the plant provides assessments also important and useful to consumers.
The tests performed on equipment in fact, are those laid down by European legislation (particularly the standard EN 60456), needed for the classifications required by 'energy label label information. In addition to measuring the consumption of energy and water, to the duration of program and the determination of the speed of centrifuge tests evaluate the effectiveness of washing, which is considered in terms of removing dirt, degreasing capacity and bleaching properties and efficacy of rinse, verified by measurement of dell'alcalinità after the centrifuge. The alkalinity is due to the presence of detergent residue, because among many other forms of allergies.
The laboratory performance, now dedicated only to tests of washing machines, has already arranged to be extended to tests of dishwashers, and confirms the activity conducted by IMQ, in addition to security, is increasingly directed towards quality and brands of performance .
The ability to verify information on the performance by a laboratory expert and authoritative, further reassure consumers and provide them with greater assurance at the time of purchase. The information provided by label energy show how the process of selection and purchase of an appliance is increasingly aware and oriented devices to high performance in terms of energy efficiency, environmental compatibility and comfort of use and ergonomics, health and welfare.
The energy label, which must accompany the May 1999 refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, light bulbs (from next July will be also on electric furnaces) allows consumers to evaluate, since the time of purchase, the main technical characteristics, performance and energy consumption of each model. The labels are standardized information in the form and scale of assessment of results obtained (scale from A to G, where A indicates the highest efficiency and lowest G) contain all information relating to energy consumption and efficiency class energy determined by the relationship between performance and energy consumption.
With a reduction in the consumption of energy, the energy label is mandatory for high diffusion apparatus, which has the highest consumption of electricity. The total European consumption, household accounts for 30 per cent and those relating to household appliances, 15 percent. The energy label, in addition to guide consumers in choosing when, encourages technological development of products that provide energy consumption and are less polluting. And the progress already made has been remarkable.
The data collected provide that in ten years the consumption of water for the wash cycle of a washing machine has increased from 110 to 50 liters, down to 40 liters in the more advanced models, while consumption energy increased from 2.0 kWh to 0.94 kWh. Similarly, the dishwasher, it has gone from an average of 45 liters of water for washing at 25 liters, with even the minimum of 10 liters, while the consumption of detergent is decreased from 40 to 20 grams. And the progress has not been only in terms of consumption. Suffice it to say that currently dishwashers are 70 times quieter than those produced 30 years ago.