Appliance Standards and Labelling Regulations have been put in place. A key component of these regulations is that a number of appliances are now required to be labelled with a South African Energy Efficiency Label. The purpose of the South African Energy Efficiency Label is to ensure that consumers are informed about the relative energy efficiency of an appliance before they decide to purchase. The South African Energy Efficiency Label must therefore be visible on any appliances identified as requiring a label in both physical and online stores. A detailed guide to energy efficiency labelling has been developed in order to understand the labelling requirements.
The energy efficiency label has been designed to provide consumers with accurate and comparable information on the energy efficiency of household appliances. The information provided on the label indicates the energy efficiency class of the appliance, the manufacturer and appliance model. For some appliances, the label will also have non-energy data such as water consumption per cycle and appliance noise level.
Currently the following appliances require South Africa Energy Efficiency Labels:
Appliance Category | Label Size | Label Mandatory |
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioners | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes |
| Dishwashers | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes |
| Electric Ovens | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes |
| Fridges and Freezers | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes |
| Storage Water Heater | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes |
| Light bulbs (Electric lamps) | 55 mm X 100 mm | Optional |
| Tumble Dryers | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes |
| Washer-dryers | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes |
| Washing Machines | 110 mm X 200 mm | Yes |
An example of a label for an electric oven 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.
