Europe’s heating equipment is responsible for about 25% of the continent’s CO2 emissions, around the same level as road transport or industry. Heating is by far the largest source of energy consumption in our homes.

Energy efficiency measures on boilers and water heaters have the potential to reduce home energy bills by billions each year, and to promote renewable energy solutions.

What is the European Union doing?

Energy labels for boilers, water heaters, and combination kits (e.g. with solar panels) have been introduced in the EU in 2015, after very long delays. Under these labels, fossil fuel boilers can still get an A grade (if they are condensing gas boilers), while renewable energy solutions are ranked from A+ to A+++. Minimum ecodesign requirements have also been set on the energy performance and pollutant emissions (with differentiated levels according to the technology). The last stage entered into force in 2017.

These measures are estimated to have led to a reduction in EU CO2 emissions by about 80 million tonnes annually so far, equivalent to taking almost 45 million cars off our roads.

A review study was launched in 2017, with the aim to suggest improvements to the regulations. However, the current energy label is unlikely to be revised before 2025, due to a strong pressure from the heating industry to keep it favourable to fossil fuel models.

What does the coolproducts campaign want?

Boilers

  • Set 2030 as the phase-out date for fossil fuel boilers (i.e. ones that cannot operate with renewable energy or alternative greener fuels);

  • In the meantime, close all loopholes (such as for B1 boilers), to ensure only the very top-performing technologies can be purchased. In particular, fossil fuel boilers that do not condense to the optimal level should be banned;

  • Stricter requirements for heat pumps, particularly regarding refrigerants and testing procedures;

  • Rescaling the energy labels to promote renewable solutions more aggressively; reducing gas consumption in particular is crucial to meeting the EU climate objectives;

  • NOx and greenhouse gas emissions warnings on the energy labels.

Water heaters

  • Setting 2030 as the phase-out date for electric storage water heaters, which are by far the least efficient type. In the meantime, a prominent warning about product inefficiency should be shown on the product label, fiche and user manual;

  • Phasing out fossil-fuel operated water heaters by 2030;

  • Rescaling the energy labels to promote renewable solutions more aggressively.

Coolproducts technical input and position papers:

2023 – Factsheet: Let’s end the sales of fossil fuel boilers through ecodesign

2023 – Position paper – Efficiency of water-based space heaters: setting the thresholds for the Ecodesign Regulation

2021 – Draft ecodesign and energy labelling regulations for space and combination heaters

2021 – Technical position paper: Draft ecodesign and energy labelling regulations for water heaters and storage tanks

2021 – Position paper: Draft ecodesign and energy labelling regulations for space and combination heaters

2020 – ECOS/EEB/Coolproducts on WG3 Calculation 

2020 – ECOS/EEB/Coolproducts on WG2 testing 

2020 – ECOS/EEB/Coolproducts position on WG1 hydrogen 

2020 – ECOS/EEB/Coolproducts/Right to Repair interim report on WG4 Water Heaters – July 2020

2020 – ECOS/EEB/Coolproducts remarks on WG4 Water Heaters – June 2020

2020 – ECOS/EEB/Coolproducts position-WG4-Water Heaters

2019 – Discussion paper on Ecodesign and energy labelling of heating products, with focus on space heaters

2019 – Position paper on proposals by the European Commission for boilers

2019 – Position paper on proposals by the European Commission for water heaters

2018 – Comments on the preparatory study for the review of Ecodesign and Energy Labelling requirements for Boilers and Water Heaters

COOLPRODUCTS COVERAGE

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Daily Mail logo
economist logo
El Pais logo
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les Echoes logo
Politiken logo
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The telegraph logo
The Guardian logo
The Verge logo
motherboard logo
Le moniteur logo
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EUROPEAN PARTNERS

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topten logo
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Clientearth logo
CAN logo
WWF logo
Inforse logo
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EIA logo
EEB logo

NATIONAL
PARTNERS

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greenalliance logo
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The Eco Conucyl logo
Quercus logo
Global 2000 logo
Legambiente logo
Zero logo
CLER logo
Les Amis logo
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Supporters

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Life logo

With the support of thr European Union (LIFE Programme and European COmmission). This work reflects the author's views and does not commit donors.