HEMEROTECA
3 septiembre, 2014
ATLETE II Project test results point to compliance of the washing machines with EU Ecodesign and Energy Labelling requirements. Project demonstrates unique benefits of pan-EU compliance verification and of the importance of the European Commission´s financial support.
The Appliance Testing for Washing Machines Energy Label and Ecodesign Evaluation ATLETE II project has randomly tested 50 washing machines to verify their compliance with Energy Labelling and Ecodesign legislation requirements. Testing has focused not only on pure technical parameters but also energy label declarations, information provided to consumers in instruction booklets and any other mandatory product information that is provided to consumers. In summary, the results identified are:
– 100% compliance rate with the energy efficiency class and energy consumption declarations for the Energy Label;
– 100% compliance rate with energy and water consumption Ecodesign minimum requirements;
– 92% overall compliance rate for functional performance class and parameters;
– 84% overall compliance of the product fiche and Ecodesign-requested information availability and proper format;
– 64% compliance with the requirement to indicate the standard programme on the machine;
– 38% compliance rate for the Ecodesign-requested information to be provided in the booklet of instructions;
– 30% overall compliance rate when including all individual parameters.
The ATLETE II project has verified the degree to which energy labels affixed to washing machines that were made available to consumers for purchase within the Single European Market, were correct and provided accurate information about the technical specificities of the appliance, including their energy efficiency and functional performance. Consumers across Europe can therefore be confident about the technical and performance information provided when making purchases of this type of appliance. The need for further improvement will be worked on by project partners in the area of information to be provided by manufacturers.
These are the main findings to come out of a two-year process of pan-EU compliance verification of Energy Labelling and Ecodesign Regulations.. Most devices of Indesit, Whirlpool, Hotpoint, Miele, Bosch, AEG, Teka, Haier, Candy and Zanussi have achieved the best results. In some model of Daewoo and Gorenje, on the contrary, there were some differences between the declared consumption data and the study findings. The Project has been executed by eleven member strong Project Consortium. The Consortium consists of energy Agencies, a household appliance manufacturer Association, market surveillance Authority, consumer Organisations, University and independent experts.
A number of models have not passed the verification procedure set by the Project: some models tested failed to comply with one of the technical parameters, others failed to comply due to the absence of mandatory information, that should be made available to consumers prior to purchase, or to provide it in a requested format. Compliance verification results were immediately communicated to market surveillance Authorities where the appliances were available for purchase, and a number of models were made compliant through a remedy action by individual manufacturers.
The integral test results of the project are released the 25th June 2014 on line and during the Project’s Final Conference, taking place within European Union’s Sustainable Energy Week. The full testing results, including test reports for individual models tested for the project can be consulted on the project website www.atlete.eu/2.
* For further information: www.atlete.eu/2
