South Africa has Appliance Standards and Labelling regulations that assist consumers to purchase energy efficient appliances. The Appliance Standards and Labelling regulations have two components. Firstly, the regulations require that appliances carry a South African Energy Efficiency Label so consumers are informed of the likely energy consumption of an appliance before they purchase it. Secondly, the regulations protect consumers by prohibiting the sale of appliances that do not meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS).
Benefits for Manufacturers and Importers
The Appliance Standards and Labelling regulations benefit manufacturers and importers by:
- Ensuring competitors with energy intensive products are unable to access the South African market: manufacturers and importers of energy intensive products will not be able to access the South African market as these appliances do not conform to the South African Appliance Standards and Labelling regulations.
- Ensuring that consumers know which appliances are energy efficient: the South African Energy Efficiency label will help consumers to compare the energy efficiency of similar appliances and assist consumers in calculating the lifetime cost of running an appliance, which will benefit manufacturers and importers who have invested in the energy efficiency of their appliances.
- Helping manufacturers and importers to play a role in protecting the planet: manufacturers and importers can now play a role in reducing electricity consumption in South Africa therefore reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of South Africa and helping to reduce the impact of climate change.
Obligations of Manufacturers and Importers
In terms of the regulations manufacturers and importers have two obligations:
- Manufacturers and importers must secure a Letter of Authority (LOA) for each appliance to be sold in South Africa indicating that the appliance meets the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), and conforms to the relevant standard in South Africa. Go to the Letter of Authority page to get more details on the application process.
- Manufacturers and importers must supply a South African Energy Efficiency label to retailers for each of their appliances for display in show rooms and in online stores.
Standards and Labelling Regulations
The National Energy Act No 34 of 2008 allows the Minister of Energy to make regulations for the ‘labelling for energy efficiency purposes of household appliances, devices and motor vehicles’ and the ‘prohibition of the manufacture, or importation or sale of electrical and electronic products and fuel burning appliances for reasons of poor energy efficiency’. The following relevant regulations have been promulgated:
VC | Description | Government Notice | Date | Gazette Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VC 8043 | Compulsory Specification for Incandescent Lamps | R 74 | 7 Feb 2014 | 37228 |
| VC 9006 | Compulsory Specification for Hot Water Storage tanks for domestic use | R 913 | 12 Aug 2016 | 40205 |
| VC 9008 | Compulsory Specification for Energy Efficiency and Labelling of Electrical and Electronic Apparatus | R 944 | 28 Nov 2014 | 38232 |
| VC 9091 | Compulsory Specification for Single-Capped Fluorescent Lamps | R 379 | 23 May 2014 | 37654 |
South African Energy Efficiency Label
A number of appliances sold in the South Africa must be labelled with a South African Energy Efficiency Label. The label indicates how much electricity the appliance is expected to use and how the efficiency of the appliance is rated in relation to other appliances in the same category. A detailed guide to energy efficiency labelling has been developed to assist importers, manufacturers and retailers to understand labelling requirements.
An example of a label for a washing machine is shown below. Labels for various categories of appliances differ depending on the functioning of the appliance, however, all labels include seven energy efficiency classes and the energy efficiency class of the particular appliance is labelled clearly.
Appliances which require the label
Appliance Category | Label Size | Label Mandatory | Key energy efficiency information shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioners | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes | Annual energy consumption in cooling mode |
| Dishwashers | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes | The estimated kWh used per cycle |
| Electric Ovens | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes | The estimated kWh used per standard load |
| Fridges and Freezers | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes | The estimated kWh used per year |
| Storage Water Heater | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes | The rate of heat loss of the storage water heater over a 24 hour period |
| Light bulbs (Electric lamps) | 55 mm X 100 mm | Optional | The watts drawn to operate |
| Tumble Dryers | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes | The estimated kWh used per cycle |
| Washer-dryers | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes | The estimated kWh used per cycle |
| Washing Machines | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes | The estimated kWh used per cycle |
Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)
South Africa has put in place regulations that require appliances sold in South Africa to meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). These regulations have been put in place to protect consumers from purchasing appliances that use a wasteful amount of electricity. It is therefore illegal to sell appliances on the South African Market that do not meet these MEPS. For example, all air conditioners sold in South Africa must have a rating of Class B or better.
The following MEPS have been specified:
Appliance Category | MEPS |
|---|---|
| Air Conditioners | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class B |
| Audio-visual Equipment | In passive standby mode power consumption should not exceed 1 W, except for set-top boxes which must not exceed 3 W |
| Dishwashers | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class A |
| Electric Ovens (Large) | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class B |
| Electric Ovens (Small & Medium) | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class A |
| Freezers | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class C |
| Fridges | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class B |
| Fridge-freezers | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class B |
| Storage Water Heater | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class B |
| Tumble Dryers | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class D |
| Washer-dryers | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class A |
| Washing Machines | Minimum Energy Efficiency Rating of Class A |
Standards
A number of standards have been established in South Africa that specify the details of the labelling of each appliance category and for measuring the performance of an appliance in this category to determine if it conforms with the regulations. The applicable standards per appliance category are listed in the table below:
Appliance | Standard | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioners | SANS 54511-3 | Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for space heating and cooling Part 3: Test methods |
| Air Conditioners | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Household electrical appliances | SANS 62087 | Methods of measurement for the power consumption of audio, video and related equipment |
| Household electrical appliances | SANS 62087-1 | Audio, video, and related equipment — Determination of power consumption Part 1: General |
| Household electrical appliances | SANS 62087-3 | Audio, video, and related equipment - Determination of power consumption - Part 3: Television sets |
| Household electrical appliances | SANS 62087-4 | Audio, video and related equipment - Determination of power consumption - Part 4: Video recording equipment |
| Household electrical appliances | SANS 62087-5 | Audio, video and related equipment - Determination of power consumption - Part 5: Set top boxes (STB) |
| Household electrical appliances | SANS 62087-6 | Audio, video and related equipment - Determination of power consumption - Part 6: Audio equipment |
| Household electrical appliances | SANS 62301 | Household electrical appliances — Measurement of standby power |
| Household electrical appliances | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Dishwashers | SANS 50242 | Electric dishwashers for household use — Methods for measuring the performance |
| Dishwashers | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Electric Ovens Large | SANS 60350-1 | Household electric cooking appliances – Part 1: Ranges, ovens, steam ovens and grills – Methods for measuring performance. |
| Electric Ovens Large | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Electric Ovens Small & Medium | SANS 60350-1 | Household electric cooking appliances – Part 1: Ranges, ovens, steam ovens and grills – Methods for measuring performance. |
| Electric Ovens Small & Medium | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Freezers | SANS 62552 | Household refrigerating appliances — Characteristics and test methods |
| Freezers | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Fridge-freezers | SANS 62552 | Household refrigerating appliances — Characteristics and test methods |
| Fridge-freezers | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Fridges | SANS 62552 | Household refrigerating appliances — Characteristics and test methods |
| Fridges | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Storage Water Heater | SANS 151 | Fixed electric storage water heaters |
| Light bulbs (Electric lamps) | SANS 60081 | Double-capped fluorescent lamps — Performance specifications. (Currently not regulated by NRCS) |
| Light bulbs (Electric lamps) (CFL) | SANS 60901 | Single-capped fluorescent lamps — Performance specifications |
| Light bulbs (Electric lamps) (CFL) | SANS 60969 | Self-ballasted lamps for general lighting services — Performance requirements |
| Tumble Dryers | SANS 61121 | Tumble dryers for household use — Methods for measuring the performance |
| Tumble Dryers | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Washer-dryers | SANS 50229 | Electric clothes washer-dryers for household use — Methods of measuring the performance |
| Washer-dryers | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |
| Washing Machines | SANS 1695 | Clothes washing machines for household use — Methods for measuring the performance |
| Washing Machines | SANS 941 | Refers to energy efficiency of electrical and electronic apparatus |