Statement regarding energy efficiency labelling of boilers - BRE Group
Statement regarding energy efficiency labelling of boilers
There have been references recently in the media and Parliament (Westminster) to BRE in relation to some analysis we have conducted on the energy efficiency labelling of boilers. BRE wishes to clarify its position as follows:
- In 2015, the European Union introduced an energy labelling and minimum standard regulation for domestic boilers, known as Ecodesign (or ErP; and covered by Regulation No’s 811/2013, 812/2013, 813/2013 and 814/2013).
- In April 2018, and following a public consultation, England adopted this method to establish the minimum efficiency for replacement gas boilers under the English Building Regulations. This required a minimum space heating efficiency of 92%, calculated in accordance with the Ecodesign method.
- BRE conducted analysis into technical differences between the calculation method used by the Ecodesign regulation to estimate annual performance, and the previous method (SEDBUK); which has been used since 1999 in the UK.
- This analysis showed that the methods give different results and BRE suggested technical improvements for consideration by the European Commission’s “Ecoboiler” review.
- BRE’s analysis does not conclude that the current Ecodesign regulation results in consumers being mis-sold, nor that boilers sold in England do not meet the efficiency standards set by Government.