Assessing the EU Energy Efficiency Label for Appliances: Issues, Potential Improvements and Challenges

Ci a ion: de Ayala, A.; Solà, M.d.M.
Assessing he EU Ene gy E iciency
Label o Appliances: Issues,
Po en ial Imp o emen s and
Challenges. Ene gies 2022,15, 4272.
h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/en15124272
Academic Edi o s: Luis Ma ia
Abadie and Ibon Gala aga
Recei ed: 9 May 2022
Accep ed: 7 June 2022
Published: 10 June 2022
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ene gies
A icle
Assessing he EU Ene gy E iciency Label o Appliances:
Issues, Po en ial Imp o emen s and Challenges
Amaia de Ayala 1,2,* and Ma ía del Ma Solà1,2
1Depa men o Applied Economics, Facul y o Social and Communica ion Sciences,
Uni e si y o he Basque Coun y (UPV/EHU), Ba io Sa iena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
2Basque Cen e o Clima e Change (BC3), Scien i ic Campus o he Uni e si y o he Basque
Coun y (UPV/EHU), Sede Building 1, 1s loo , 48940 Leioa, Spain; ma .sola@bc3 esea ch.o g
*Co espondence: [email p o ec ed]; Tel.: +34-946-015571
Abs ac :
The EU Ene gy E iciency (EE) label o appliances, eadjus ed in Ma ch 2021 (Di ec i e
2017/1369/EU), is a key ins umen o nudging consume s owa ds mo e ene gy-e icien pu chases.
Howe e , i s e ec i eness depends on i s design, he in o ma ion p o ided and consume s’ un-
de s anding o and us in i . This pape seeks o con ibu e o he assessmen o he EE label o
appliances and o iden i y issues, po en ial imp o emen s and challenges o success ully nudging
consume s owa ds highly ene gy-e icien choices. To ha end, 33 in-dep h in e iews ha e been
conduc ed wi h h ee di e en g oups (ci izens, appliance e aile s and expe s in ene gy) o asce ain
he opinions and expe iences o di e en agen s as o consume s’ p e e ences and opinions on EE and
ene gy consump ion. We ocus on pu chasing decision-making by Spanish consume s o he h ee
main appliances: washing machines, idges and dishwashe s. The EE label o appliances seems o
be well-known and eliable o consume s. The main weakness lies in people’s unde s anding o i s
con en a he han in i s design. The colou ed alphabe ical EE scale seems o be well unde s ood and
he es o ed A–G scale o he eadjus ed label posi i ely alued. Howe e , we ind comp ehension
issues wi h ega d o he in o ma ion on ene gy consump ion and he echnical da a a he bo om o
he label. Mone a y in o ma ion on ene gy consump ion seems o acili a e consume s’ unde s and-
ing, bu i is echnically challenging due o he complexi y o he uni o measu emen . Resul s a e
discussed, aking in o accoun he ele an li e a u e.
Keywo ds:
ene gy e iciency; ene gy label; ene gy consump ion; pu chasing decision-making;
appliances; in-dep h in e iews
1. In oduc ion
Ene gy e iciency (EE), de ined as imp o emen s in he e iciency wi h which ene gy
is used o p o ide a se ice, has become c ucial in ecen yea s o achie ing he EU
a ge o 32.5% ene gy sa ings by 2030 (Ene gy E iciency Di ec i e 2018/2002). EE has
se e al s eng hs and bene i s, bu hese a e no usually enough o encou age consume s o
make he mos ene gy-e icien choices. Al hough EE seems o be inancially p o i able o
consume s, hey do no usually in es as much as may seem a ional [
1
–
3
]. This is known
as he ene gy e iciency gap.
The EE gap can be explained by ailu es o se e al ypes, including beha iou al ailu es,
in o ma ional ailu es and o he ma ke ailu es [
3
–
5
]. In o ma ional ailu es a e one o he
mos common ypes: hey in ol e si ua ions in which consume s lack o misunde s and
he in o ma ion needed o make op imal choices. The e a e a ious policy ins umen s o
coping wi h such ailu es: ene gy ce i ica es and labels, in o ma ion eedback ools and
ene gy audi s [
4
–
6
]. EE labels a e one o he easies and cheapes ways o success ully nudge
consume s owa ds mo e ene gy-e icien choices [
4
,
5
]. This is pa icula ly impo an o
household appliances, which accoun o 25.6% o he o al ene gy consump ion o Spanish
households [7].
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272. h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/en15124272 h ps://www.mdpi.com/jou nal/ene gies
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 2 o 25
A new Eu opean di ec i e on EE labels came in o o ce in Ma ch 2021 o household
appliances (Di ec i e 2017/1369/EU). I equi es EE labels o be displayed on ene gy-
ela ed appliances a he poin o sale wi h a scale om A o G, in di e en colou s (g een
o highly ene gy-e icien appliances and ed o less e icien ones). This o iginal ene gy
scale was ein oduced ia a new egula ion passed in Janua y 2017 in he ligh o e idence
ha he A+++–D scale was no e ec i e [
8
]. The main changes in his new di ec i e
compa ed o he p e ious one (Di ec i e 2010/30/EU) a e: (i) he scale o EE labels now
anges om A–G ins ead o A+++–D; (ii) ene gy consump ion in o ma ion o washing
machines and dishwashe s now appea s in e ms o use ins ead o pe yea ; and (iii) he
in e ace o he icons a he bo om o he label is di e en (see Figu e 1).
Ene gies 2022, 15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 o 25
o success ully nudge consume s owa ds mo e ene gy-e icien choices [4,5]. This is
pa icula ly impo an o household appliances, which accoun o 25.6% o he o al
ene gy consump ion o Spanish households [7].
A new Eu opean di ec i e on EE labels came in o o ce in Ma ch 2021 o household
appliances (Di ec i e 2017/1369/EU). I equi es EE labels o be displayed on ene gy-
ela ed appliances a he poin o sale wi h a scale om A o G, in di e en colou s (g een
o highly ene gy-e icien appliances and ed o less e icien ones). This o iginal ene gy
scale was ein oduced ia a new egula ion passed in Janua y 2017 in he ligh o e idence
ha he A+++–D scale was no e ec i e [8]. The main changes in his new di ec i e
compa ed o he p e ious one (Di ec i e 2010/30/EU) a e: (i) he scale o EE labels now
anges om A–G ins ead o A+++–D; (ii) ene gy consump ion in o ma ion o washing
machines and dishwashe s now appea s in e ms o use ins ead o pe yea ; and (iii) he
in e ace o he icons a he bo om o he label is di e en (see Figu e 1).
This pape seeks o con ibu e o he assessmen o he EE label o appliances and o
iden i y issues, po en ial imp o emen s and challenges o success ully nudging
consume s owa ds highly ene gy-e icien pu chases h ough he EE label. This is done
in a ious s eps. Fi s , we seek o unde s and he ole o EE in consume s’ decision-
making on he pu chase o appliances. Second, we assess how widely accep ed he EE
label is among consume s (whe he hey ecognise i , unde s and i , us i and ake i
in o accoun ). This includes an e alua ion o he eadjus ed EE label. Finally, we look o
possible imp o emen s in he way in which ene gy consump ion in o ma ion is
p esen ed, and in pa icula , whe he mone a y in o ma ion on ene gy consump ion can
be included on he label.
Figu e 1. The old ene gy e iciency label (A+++–D scale) (Di ec i e 2010/30/EU) and he new ene gy
e iciency label (A–G scale) o washing machines, which en e ed in o o ce in Ma ch 2021 (Di ec i e
2017/1369/EU).
Figu e 1.
The old ene gy e iciency label (A+++–D scale) (Di ec i e 2010/30/EU) and he new ene gy
e iciency label (A–G scale) o washing machines, which en e ed in o o ce in Ma ch 2021 (Di ec i e
2017/1369/EU).
This pape seeks o con ibu e o he assessmen o he EE label o appliances and o
iden i y issues, po en ial imp o emen s and challenges o success ully nudging consume s
owa ds highly ene gy-e icien pu chases h ough he EE label. This is done in a ious
s eps. Fi s , we seek o unde s and he ole o EE in consume s’ decision-making on he
pu chase o appliances. Second, we assess how widely accep ed he EE label is among
consume s (whe he hey ecognise i , unde s and i , us i and ake i in o accoun ).
This includes an e alua ion o he eadjus ed EE label. Finally, we look o possible
imp o emen s in he way in which ene gy consump ion in o ma ion is p esen ed, and
in pa icula , whe he mone a y in o ma ion on ene gy consump ion can be included on
he label.
This all will be analysed om h ee di e en pe spec i es o asce ain he opinions
and expe iences o di e en agen s ela ed in di e en ways o ene gy consump ion and
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 3 o 25
EE: (i) ha o he public as use s o household appliances; (ii) ha o household appliance
e aile s as expe s in pu chasing decision-making by cus ome s; and (iii) ha o academic
expe s as specialis s in he ield o ene gy esea ch. The public is expec ed o answe he
ques ions based on hei own beha iou and eac ions, while selle s and expe s should
p o ide insigh s in o he consume endencies and habi s based on hei expe ience and
specialis knowledge. This enables us o e lec on he accep abili y o he p e ious and
es o ed EE labels and o make ecommenda ions o he design o an e ec i e label o
encou age consume s o pu chase highly ene gy-e icien appliances.
The e is p e ious esea ch assessing he EE label in gene al [
9
,
10
] and ocusing on
pa icula aspec s o i such as he design o he EE scale [
10
–
12
] how ene gy in o ma ion is
p esen ed [
13
–
15
] and how i is unde s ood, pe cei ed and conside ed [
16
,
17
]. The ele an
li e a u e has es ed he e ec i eness o p esen ing ene gy consump ion in o ma ion as
mone a y in o ma ion [
14
,
18
,
19
] o heal h- ela ed in o ma ion [
20
]. In he appliances
ma ke , he e a e ecen s udies ha measu e he e ec o p o iding mone a y in o ma ion
in e ms o ene gy cos [14,19,21,22] o as ene gy sa ings [15] as a way o p omo ing EE.
P e ious assessmen s o he EE label p o ide mainly quan i a i e e idence and may
lack a clea ly hough -ou explana ion o he mo i a ions behind each p e e ence and
choice. As poin ed ou by Ba a esco e al. [
23
], ene gy esea ch may s ill lack social science
app oaches o imp o e i s ou comes and assess he human dimension o ene gy use. In
Spain, an ea lie s udy [
16
] explo es he ac o s ha mo i a e consume s o pu chase ene gy-
e icien goods ac oss di e en sec o s (households, he accommoda ion sec o and p i a e
se ice companies) and p oduc s (appliances, hea ing, en ila ion and ai -condi ioning
and ca s). The p esen s udy ocuses mainly on iden i ying issues, po en ial imp o emen s
and challenges in he EE label o appliances om h ee di e en iewpoin s ( he gene al
public, e aile s and expe s in ene gy esea ch) o p o ide guidance o e ec i e EE labels.
I also p o ides a compa ison be ween he eadjus ed label (in use om Ma ch 2021) and
he p e ious one.
Quali a i e analysis may gi e signi ican insigh s in o hese aspec s om di e en
s andpoin s since i p o ides a deepe unde s anding o how he EE label is unde s ood,
why (and why no ) i is aken in o accoun and how i can be imp o ed. We use a numbe
o in-dep h in e iews wi h membe s o he gene al public, e aile s and expe s in he ield
o ene gy esea ch o asce ain hei opinions, expe iences, expec a ions and knowledge
ega ding consume beha iou owa ds EE and EE labels. We ocus on pu chasing decision-
making by Spanish consume s and on h ee main appliances— idges, washing machines
and dishwashe s—as hey accoun o 30.6%, 11.8% and 6.1% o ene gy consump ion in
Spanish households, espec i ely [7].
Sec ion 2looks a p e ious publica ions assessing he EU EE label and ways o imp o e
i . Sec ion 3desc ibes he me hodology applied in his s udy. Sec ion 4p esen s ou indings.
Sec ion 5discusses hem and concludes.
2. The E ec i eness o he EU Ene gy E iciency Label o Appliances
Resea ch in o unde s anding consume eac ions o EE labels o ehicles and house-
hold appliances has been g owing in ecen yea s due o he manda o y implemen a ion
o EE labels in hese ma ke s and inc easing ene gy and en i onmen al conce ns (see [
5
]
o a e iew). In he appliances ma ke , he e is a g owing body o esea ch on es ima ing
EE label p ice p emiums, e.g., o washing machines, dishwashe s and e ige a o s in
Spain [
24
–
26
]; o washing machines in Swi ze land [
27
]; o washing machines, e ige a-
o s and ai condi ione s in China [
28
–
30
]; and o e ige a o s in Ge many [
31
,
32
] and he
US [
33
–
35
]. These s udies es ima e a posi i e willingness o pay o highly ene gy-e icien
appliances, al hough i s scale a ies om coun y o coun y and in line wi h di e en
consume p o iles, yea s o s udy and appliance ypes [29,36]).
O he s udies ocus on assessing EE labels and pa icula ly on how hei design and
he in o ma ion p esen ed can a ec hei e ec i eness and he e o e decision-making by
consume s. Table 1p esen s a summa y o s udies assessing he EU label o appliances in
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 4 o 25
e ms o label design and ype (and o ma ) o in o ma ion. Wi h ega d o label design,
Egan and Waide [
9
] compa e ene gy labelling p og ammes in nine coun ies and highligh
ha labels which ep esen EE le els ia disc e e ca ego ies (s a s, le e s o numbe s) a e
p e e ed o e hose ha use a con inuous scale.
Heinzle and Wüs enhagen [
11
] ca ied ou a disc e e choice expe imen in Ge many
conce ning he EE scale and concluded ha Ge man consume s a e mo e willing o pay a
highe p emium o TVs wi h he highes a ings on he A–G scale han on he A+++–D
scale. Waech e e al. [
10
] ound ha no only he le e ange used in he scale bu also
he numbe o EE ca ego ies can in luence consume s’ choices. They es ed he impac
o a sho e EE scale wi h jus 3 EE classes (A–C scale) o di e en appliances ( eeze s,
lamps and co ee machines) in Swi ze land and ound ha i inc eased he pe cep ions
o EE gains in high-EE p oduc s, which could mo i a e consume s o choose he mos
ene gy-e icien p oduc s.
Waide e al. [
37
] used ques ionnai es, ocus g oups and in-dep h in e iews o analyse
he unde s anding o consume s ( om London, P ague and Pa is) wi h ega d o e ised
ene gy labels o appliances ( idge- eeze s, washing machines, dishwashe s and ele ision
se s) in oduced a he end o 2011 (Di ec i e 2010/30/EU). Thei e idence shows ha
highe EE classes unde he p e ious A–G scale implemen ed in 1995 a e much mo e
mo i a ing o consume s han hose unde he A+++–D scale.
London Economics [
12
] assessed al e na i e EE label designs o di e en appliances
( ele isions, washing machines and ligh bulbs) in se en EU Membe S a es by means
o an online beha iou al expe imen and a b icks-and-mo a expe imen . They ound
ha consume s’ unde s anding does no a y be ween A–G and A+++–D scales, bu hey
ound e idence ha mo e consume s choose ene gy-e icien appliances when he A–G
scale is used han unde he A+++–D scale. The same s udy no es ha he EE scale is be e
unde s ood when i is ep esen ed by le e s han by numbe ed ames. De Ayala e al. [
16
]
also ind ha he colou ed alphabe ical g id is much app ecia ed in Spain.
The e is a g owing body o esea ch assessing he ene gy- ela ed in o ma ion p esen ed
on labels and how o in luence consume s’ choices. De Ayala e al. [
16
] ecognise a ious
ways o acili a ing consume s’ unde s anding o ene gy consump ion, such as using a
scale o ell whe he consump ion is low o high and p esen ing mone a y in o ma ion on
ene gy consump ion. Howe e , se e al issues can be iden i ied wi h ega d o measu ing
mone a y in o ma ion, such as he ma ke p ice o ene gy and he e e ence used.
Va ious ways o p o iding mone a y in o ma ion a e no ed in he li e a u e, in e ms o
ene gy cos o ene gy sa ings. Fo ene gy cos , Kallbekken e al. [
18
] used a ield expe imen
o es he e ec i eness o p o iding li e ime ene gy cos in o ma ion on umble d ye s and
eeze s. They ound no e ec o eeze s bu a dec ease in he a e age ene gy consump ion
o umble d ye s sold when labels p o ide mone a y ene gy cos in o ma ion and sales
s a ha e aining on EE- ela ed issues. Simila ly, using an online ield expe imen o
washing machines, Deu sch [
38
] ound a small bu signi ican educ ion in ene gy use when
consume s ecei e addi ional in o ma ion on li e-cycle cos s.
Bull [
39
] concludes ha in o ma ion on unning cos s and emissions inc eases willing-
ness o pay and ha li e ime unning cos in o ma ion is mo e e ec i e han pe annum
in o ma ion. Heinzle [
40
] conduc ed a disc e e choice expe imen and ound ha con-
sume s will pay a highe p ice p emium o ele isions when en-yea mone a y cos s a e
displayed bu a lowe p emium when one-yea cos in o ma ion is displayed (compa ed
o non-mone a y EE in o ma ion). In line wi h hese esul s, Blasch e al. [
21
] conduc ed a
andomised con ol ial in Swi ze land and showed ha ene gy and in es men li e acy
a e posi i ely co ela ed wi h he p obabili y o choosing he idge wi h he lowes li e ime
ene gy cos .
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 5 o 25
Table 1. Summa y o s udies assessing EU labels o appliances.
S udy Concep Tes ed Me hodology Appliance/s Resul
Design
Heinzle and Wüs enhagen [11] EE scale Disc e e choice expe imen Tele ision
An A–G scale is mo e e ec i e in guiding
consume s’ decisions owa ds ene gy-e icien
p oduc s
Waech e e al. [10] EE scale Online expe imen s F eeze s, lamps, co ee
machines
A sho e scale wi h 3 classes (A–C) inc eases
consume s’ mo i a ion o choose he mos
ene gy-e icien p oduc s
Waide e al. [37] EE scale Ques ionnai es, ocus g oups
and in-dep h in e iews
F idge- eeze s, washing
machines, dishwashe s,
ele isions
High EE classes a e mo e mo i a ing on an
A–G scale han on an A+++–D scale
London Economics [12] EE scale Online beha iou al
expe imen and b icks and
mo a expe imen
Tele isions, washing
machines and ligh bulbs
•Labels wi h an A–G scale lead mo e
consume s o choose ene gy-e icien
p oduc s han an A+++–D scale
•Consume s unde s and alphabe ical EE
amewo ks be e han nume ical ones
Egan and Waide [9] EE scale Ma ke esea ch Appliances in gene al
Disc e e EE ca ego ies (s a s, le e s o
numbe s) a e mo e e ec i e han a con inuous
scale
de Ayala e al. [16] EE scale Focus g oups and in-dep h
in e iews
Appliances, hea ing and
cooling sys ems and ca s
The colou ed alphabe ical scale is alued
posi i ely
Con en
de Ayala e al. [16]Mone a y in o ma ion on
ene gy consump ion Focus g oups and in-dep h
in e iews
Appliances, hea ing and
cooling sys ems and ca s
Mone a y in o ma ion is alued posi i ely bu
he e a e issues in measu ing i (ene gy p ice
and equency o use)
Kallbekken e al. [18]Ten-yea ene gy cos
in o ma ion Field expe imen Tumble d ye s and eeze s
Ten-yea ene gy cos in o ma ion is e ec i e
o umble d ye s bu no e ec is ound o
eeze s
Deu sch [38] Li e cycle cos in o ma ion Online ield expe imen Washing machines Li e cycle cos in o ma ion esul s in a
educ ion in ene gy use o 0.8%
Bull [39]
Running cos in o ma ion (pe
yea and li e ime) and
emissions in o ma ion
S a ed p e e ence su ey Washing machines
•Running cos and emissions in o ma ion
inc eases willingness o pay o washing
machines
•Li e ime unning cos in o ma ion is
mo e e ec i e han pe annum
in o ma ion

Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 6 o 25
Table 1. Con .
S udy Concep Tes ed Me hodology Appliance/s Resul
Con en
Heinzle [40]
Ten-yea ene gy cos
in o ma ion s. pe
annum in o ma ion
Disc e e choice expe imen Tele isions
A highe p ice p emium is ound when
en-yea cos in o ma ion is p esen ed and a
lowe one when pe annum in o ma ion
is shown
Blasch e al. [21]Li e ime ene gy
cos in o ma ion
Randomised con ol
expe imen F idge
Ene gy and in es men li e acy is posi i ely
co ela ed wi h he p obabili y o in es ing in
high-e iciency idges
Solàe al. [41]Li e ime ( en-yea ) ene gy
cos in o ma ion Field expe imen
Washing machines, idges,
dishwashe s and umble
d ye s
Li e ime ene gy cos in o ma ion is e ec i e in
p omo ing he pu chase o A+++ umble
d ye s and A++ washing machines, idges
and dishwashe s
Allco and Sweeney [42]Ene gy cos in o ma ion pe
yea + sales s a Na u al ield expe imen Wa e hea e
Ene gy cos in o ma ion and in o ma ion
p o ided by sales s a a e e ec i e when
ea ed join ly
Ca oll e al. [43]Fi e-yea ene gy cos
in o ma ion Field Expe imen Tumble d ye s No e ec is ound
Skou ous e al. [19] Annual ope a ing cos Disc e e choice expe imen F idge No e ec is ound
d’Adda e al. [22]Yea ly o li e ime ene gy cos Field expe imen F idge
•Ene gy cos in o ma ion di ec s
pu chases owa ds cheape p oduc s in
lowe EE classes, bu wi h simila ene gy
and o al cos s
•The e is a ade-o be ween economic
sa ings and highe sea ch cos s
Solàe al. [14]Li e ime ( en-yea ) ene gy
sa ings in o ma ion Field expe imen Washing machines, idges
and dishwashe s
Li e ime ene gy sa ings in o ma ion is use ul
o p omo ing he adop ion o high-e iciency
washing machines and idges, bu no e ec is
ound o dishwashe s
S adelmann and Schube [15]Li e ime mone a y in o ma ion
(cos and/o sa ings) Online ield expe imen F eeze s, umble d ye s,
acuum cleane s
Mone a y in o ma ion is use ul in inc easing
he adop ion o highly e icien umble d ye s
and acuum cleane s, bu no e ec is ound
o eeze s
Sou ce: Own wo k.
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 7 o 25
In a ield expe imen in Spain, Solàe al. [
41
] ound ha li e ime ene gy cos in o ma-
ion is e ec i e in p omo ing he adop ion o high-e iciency umble d ye s (A+++) and o
A++ labelled washing machines, idges and dishwashe s. A simila ield expe imen was
un by Allco and Sweeney [
42
], who showed ha ene gy cos in o ma ion pe yea and
sales incen i es need o be ea ed join ly o boos ene gy-e icien pu chases. By con as , a
ield expe imen conduc ed by Ca oll e al. [
43
] ound ha p o iding 5-yea ene gy cos
in o ma ion has no e ec on umble d ye s. Finally, Skou os e al. [
19
] an a choice-based
expe imen in G eece and ound ha including he annual ope a ing cos o idges has no
e ec on consume s’ choices. They he e o e p oposed using ene gy sa ings campaigns o
p omo e he pu chase o high-e iciency appliances.
A ecen s udy [
22
] in ol ed a ield expe imen wi h an I alian online e aile o
e ige a o s pu chases and ound ha : (i) adding yea ly o li e ime ene gy cos in o ma ion
on he label shi s pu chases om op- anked o low EE classes wi h lowe p ices bu simila
o e all ene gy and o al cos s, since he dis ibu ions o ene gy cos s o di e en EE classes
o e lap; (ii) p o iding mone a y in o ma ion ex ends p oduc sea ches among consume s,
wi h mo e a en ion paid o low EE p oduc s. Gi en his, he au ho s call in o ques ion he
e ec i eness o p o iding unning cos in o ma ion on labels.
Conce ning mone a y in o ma ion on ene gy sa ings, Solàe al. [
14
] conduc ed a ield
expe imen o analyse he e ec i eness o p o iding li e ime ene gy sa ings in o ma ion
o washing machines, idges and dishwashe s in Spain. They ound ha gi ing mone a y
in o ma ion h ough a mone a y label is e ec i e in p omo ing high-e iciency washing
machines, while bo h mone a y in o ma ion p o ided by s a alone and he combina ion
o a mone a y label and in o ma ion om sales s a seem o be e ec i e in p omo ing
pu chases o high ene gy-e iciency idges. S adelmann and Schube [
15
] an a ield
expe imen o compa e he e ec i eness o labels in di e en scena ios (no label, EU ene gy
label and li e ime-o ien ed mone a y ene gy label) o eeze s, umble d ye s and acuum
cleane s. The mone a y label indica es li e ime ene gy sa ings o cos s depending on he
ene gy consump ion o he p oduc . They ound ha he p esence o ei he label inc eases
sales o high-e iciency umble d ye s and acuum cleane s, bu no o eeze s.
The o he (non-ene gy) in o ma ion on he ene gy label has also been ques ioned in
some s udies such as de Ayala e al. [
16
] and Waide e al. [
37
]. They highligh ha con-
sume s ind i ha d o unde s and he echnical in o ma ion in he o m o icons p esen ed
a he bo om o he label (e.g., noise le el, capaci y, spin e iciency class, wa e consump-
ion) and ha hey do no e en ake his in o ma ion in o accoun in hei pu chasing
decision-making.
3. Me hodology
Da a we e collec ed ia semi-s uc u ed guided in e iews and in-dep h in e iews
applied o h ee g oups: membe s o he gene al public as use s o household appliances,
e aile s expe ienced in pu chasing decision-making by cus ome s and expe s in ene gy-
ela ed esea ch. The in e iew me hod, he subsampling me hod, he opic guideline and
he da a analysis a e ou lined below.
3.1. In-Dep h In e iews and Sample
An in-dep h in e iew (IdI) is a p e-a anged, di ec , pe sonal in e iew in which
a single pa icipan is ques ioned by an expe ienced in e iewe o alk in-dep h abou
he opic unde in es iga ion and unco e unde lying mo i a ions, belie s, a i udes and
eelings on ha opic. The main idea is o iden i y and unde s and he pa e n o hough s,
emo ions and beha iou o an indi idual pa icipan .
IdIs a e o en e e ed o as semi-s uc u ed in e iews because he esea che e ains
some con ol o e he di ec ion and con en o be discussed, bu pa icipan s a e ee o
elabo a e o ake he in e iew in new bu ela ed di ec ions [
44
]. IdIs a e usually ca ied ou
ace- o- ace so ha a appo can be c ea ed wi h in e iewees. The in e iew is conduc ed
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 8 o 25
using a discussion opic guide which helps o lush ou he esponden ’s iews h ough
open-ended ques ioning [45–47].
The aim o he sampling design in IdIs and quali a i e esea ch, in gene al, is o
ga he enough da a o gi e an accu a e unde s anding o he opics unde in es iga ion
and he di e en iews ha a e p esen in he s udy popula ion. Fu he mo e, he sample
ends o be cons uc ed “pu posi ely” a he han d awn andomly om a sample ame.
Pu posi e sampling (also known as a ge ed o judgemen sampling) co e s a wide a ie y
o cha ac e is ics e e ing o he cons uc ion o he sample in some way ha acili a es he
sa is ac ion o he esea ch ques ions [
46
,
48
]. A ypical IdI in social sciences uses a a ge
sample o be ween 10 and 50 in e iews [48].
In o al, 33 IdIs we e conduc ed in Spain be ween Ap il and May 2021 o assess he
ole o EE and EE labels in pu chasing decision-making by consume s o appliances om
he pe spec i es o di e en pa icipan s: 11 o membe s o he public, 10 o e aile s and
12 o expe s.
The IdIs o he public and o e aile s we e ca ied ou ace- o- ace by a su ey
company (CPS) (h ps://www.cps2000.com, accessed on 1 No embe 2021) and las ed
abou 30 min each. The membe s o he public and e aile s in e iewed we e om he ci y
o Bilbao and o he municipali ies in he p o ince o Bizkaia (Spain). They we e paid (
€
10)
o encou age hei ac i e pa icipa ion. We ou sel es conduc ed he IdIs o expe s online,
as hey came om di e en pa s o Spain. They also las ed abou 30 min.
The membe s o he public comp ised 11 homeowne s who had bough a new appli-
ance (washing machine, idge o dishwashe ) in he las 5 yea s. Fi e o hem had also
bene i ed om Spain’s RENOVE household elec ical appliance enewal p og amme in
any o hei pu chases, so we we e able o look a he e ec o his p og amme on hei
pu chasing decision-making. The RENOVE p og amme is p omo ed by he Spanish Ins i-
u e o Ene gy Di e si ica ion and Sa ing (IDAE). Th ough i , each egional au onomous
communi y o e s use s inancial incen i es o eplace old appliances wi h new, mo e
e icien ones (i.e., wi h he highes EE le el).
The 11 indi iduals selec ed we e ec ui ed s a egically o ensu e he e ogenei y e-
ga ding gende , age, educa ion le el, household composi ion, employmen si ua ion and
household income le el. The ec ui men c i e ia o he sample o he membe s o he
public can be seen in Table A1 o Appendix A.
The sample o e aile s consis ed o 10 indi iduals selec ed in o de o ensu e ha
household e ail appliance-selling es ablishmen s o di e en ypes and wi h di e ing
u no e s in he p o ince o Bizkaia (small, medium and la ge) we e ep esen ed (see
Table A2 o Appendix A).
The sample o expe s comp ised 12 Spanish academics om di e en esea ch cen es
and uni e si ies, co e ing a ious a eas o expe ise in he ield o ene gy (ene gy and
clima e change policies, ene gy modelling, ene gy ma ke s and EE) while ensu ing gende
balance (see Table A3 o Appendix A). Expe s we e con ac ed ia email o explain he
s udy and i s objec i e. Then, an appoin men was made o he online in e iew.
The eason o choosing s a egic ec ui men c i e ia a he han ying o aim o
be e s a is ical ep esen a i eness is ha he objec i e o ou s udy is o unde s and he
mo i a ions, expe iences and ype o a gumen s behind each ques ion, a he han o
measu e p e e ences quan i a i ely (which can be done be e by conduc ing a su ey).
We selec ed pa icipan s who we expec ed o ha e di e en expe iences and pe spec i es
(e.g., households wi h child en e sus households wi hou child en, e aile s om la ge
es ablishmen s e sus e aile s om small es ablishmen s o expe s in he ield o EE
e sus expe s in o he ene gy- ela ed opics), and who we hus expec ed o ha e di e en
opinions on EE and EE labels o appliances. Ta ge ed sampling is a common sampling
s a egy in quali a i e esea ch [16,17,49,50].
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 9 o 25
3.2. Topic Guideline and Da a Analysis
Fo all h ee g oups, he in e iews we e semi-s uc u ed wi h open-ended ques-
ions, allowing o discussion wi h he in e iewee a he han ollowing a s aigh o wa d
ques ion-and-answe o ma . The IdIs ollowed a de ailed opic guide wi h a lis o ques-
ions o make su e ha he p e-de ined lis o opics was co e ed [45–47].
A gene al common guideline o all h ee g oups was p epa ed o allow compa ison
be ween hei pe spec i es ega ding he a ious opics, bu ques ions we e ailo ed o
each pa icula g oup by eph asing hem o adding u he poin s in acco dance wi h he
a ge audience.
The gene al common guide comp ises 5 sec ions. The i s sec ion (“Appliances”)
seeks o iden i y he main appliances in Spanish households and he second (“Pu chasing
decision-making”) seeks mainly o iden i y he key a ibu es ha in luence pu chasing
decision-making by consume s o appliances (e.g., “Wha a e he key ac o s ha consume s
ake in o accoun when buying a new appliance?”,“Do consume s ake EE labels in o accoun when
buying a new appliance?”).
The hi d sec ion (“Ene gy e iciency and ene gy consump ion”) asks wha consume s
unde s and by EE, wha consume s can do o educe he ene gy consump ion o appliances
(in IdIs o he public and expe s only) and wha he gene al buye p o ile is (gende , age,
household composi ion, household income le el, educa ion le el, e c.) o high-e iciency
appliances (in IdIs o e aile s and expe s only). In his sec ion, expe s a e also asked o
e lec on he e ec i eness o in e ening in he pu chase decision e sus in decisions on
ene gy use (“Which do you hink can be mo e e ec i e in p omo ing ene gy sa ings: in e ening
in he pu chase decision and/o in e ening in he ene gy use? Why?”).
The ou h sec ion (“Ene gy e iciency label o appliances”) assesses he accep abili y
o he EU EE label o appliances: whe he consume s a e amilia wi h i , unde s and i ,
use i and us i . This includes he assessmen o he eadjus ed EE label in use since
Ma ch 2021. The i h sec ion (“Possible changes”) co e s po en ial imp o emen s in he
EE label o appliances so as o p omo e EE (“Do you hink he e is oom o imp o emen in
he EE label? Wha ? How? Why?”). We asked pa icula ly abou he possibili y o p o iding
mone a y in o ma ion on he ene gy consump ion o appliances (“Do you hink i would be
use ul o ha e isible mone a y in o ma ion on he ene gy consump ion o he appliance (in eu os
a he han kWh) when buying? Why?”) and abou he e ms (cos o sa ings in eu os) and
uni s (pe yea , pe mon h, pe use, li e ime, e c.) in which ha mone a y in o ma ion
should be shown. Finally, we also asked abou o he po en ial ways o e ec i ely in o m
abou he ene gy consump ion and EE o appliances (“Do you hink he e is any o he way o
in o m abou he ene gy consump ion and e iciency o appliances apa om he cu en ene gy
e iciency label? Which one? Why?”).
The IdIs o e aile s had an ex a sec ion ocusing on he ole o sales s a in pu chas-
ing decision-making by consume s (wha ype o in o ma ion consume s usually eques ,
wha hey hink is he mos e ec i e way o in o m cus ome s abou EE, e c.) and he e ec
o Spain’s RENOVE subsidy p og amme o appliance enewal on hei sales.
I is impo an o highligh ha membe s o he public answe ed ques ions wi h ega d
o hei own beha iou and opinions owa ds EE, bu e aile s and expe s had o answe
hinking o how consume s o cus ome s beha e in his ega d based on hei expe ience
and specialis knowledge. The comple e de ailed opic guide, including he ull lis o
ques ions asked and an indica ion o o whom each ques ion was add essed, can be ound
in Appendix B.
All IdIs we e digi ally eco ded and ansc ibed o ex . Con en analysis was used
o sys ema ically ans o m his la ge amoun o ex in o a highly o ganised, concise
summa y o key esul s [
45
,
51
]. A able was c ea ed ollowing he opic guideline o include
all compa able in o ma ion in he same s uc u e. Each column in he able e e s o a single
in e iewee, while each ow shows he in o ma ion on a speci ic ques ion. The in o ma ion
collec ed was assessed on a mac o le el in sea ch o simila pa e ns, concep s and gene al
hemes [52,53].
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 16 o 25
be less s iking o consume s. The li e a u e includes many mo e s udies ha p opose
mone a y in o ma ion in e ms o ene gy cos han ene gy sa ings.
Wi h ega d o uni s o measu emen , we iden i y a sligh p e e ence o mone a y
in o ma ion (in e ms o cos o sa ings) o be p esen ed pe yea , as his enables di e en
ypes o appliances o be compa ed in he same uni and means ha mone a y amoun s
o longe pe iods o yea s o e en o he whole use ul li e ime can be de e mined. In
he li e a u e, he as majo i y o s udies use li e ime-o ien ed mone a y in o ma ion.
This migh be because p o iding in o ma ion o a long pe iod may ha e mo e impac on
pu chasing decisions [
39
,
40
,
63
]. Howe e , we ind ha consume s end no o us he
epo ed li e imes o appliances. The uni pe use/numbe o uses, as cu en ly used on he
label o p o ide ene gy consump ion in o ma ion o washing machines and dishwashe s,
appea s no o ha e been quan i a i ely es ed ye in he li e a u e.
I is impo an o no e ha e o s o educe ene gy consump ion in he esiden ial
sec o should no ocus only on imp o ing he EE label o encou age he pu chase o high
ene gy-e iciency appliances bu also on day- o-day ene gy-sa ing beha iou s [
64
,
65
]. All
he expe s in e iewed ag ee ha o achie e subs an ial ene gy educ ions and mi iga e
clima e change, policy e o s should be ocused on bo h in es men in EE and ene gy use
in he home. Indeed, he li e a u e has shown ha in es men s in EE and use beha iou
a e no independen and do no necessa ily go in he same di ec ion [8,58,62,64].
In addi ion o he EE label, eba e p og ammes such as Spain’s RENOVE household
elec ical appliance enewal p og amme seem o be a use ul way o encou aging consume s
o make ene gy-e icien pu chases. Indeed, ou esponden s belie e ha such p og ammes
ha e a clea posi i e impac on he sales o high ene gy-e iciency appliances. This is
consis en wi h p e ious s udies in Spain [66] and elsewhe e [34,67,68].
The ole o sales s a and in o ma ion campaigns on EE also seems also o be c ucial,
since we ind ha EE is no he chie ac o aken in o accoun by consume s in hei
appliance pu chasing decisions. The posi i e in luence o explana ions by e aile s on inal
pu chasing decisions by consume s has been obse ed in he li e a u e [
14
,
18
,
69
]. Howe e ,
he sales s a in e iewed gene ally equi e aining on EE aspec s in o de o ha e an
e ec i e impac on hei cus ome s’ decision-making. Measu es ocusing on ene gy use
we e also seen as necessa y and complemen a y by he expe s in e iewed, e.g., apps o
websi es ha iden i y which appliance consumes he mos elec ici y and p o ide speci ic
ad ice on how o educe consump ion (see [5,61,62] o a e iew on EE policies).
6. Conclusions
Inc easing EE is a majo goal o he coming yea s. Fo i o be achie ed, households
ha e o pu chase ene gy-e icien appliances. The EU EE label o appliances is key in
his, bu i s e ec i eness depends on i s accep abili y, i.e., he ex en o which consume s
ecognise, pe cei e and unde s and he in o ma ion on he label and ake i in o accoun in
hei pu chasing decisions. This pape seeks o con ibu e o his goal by iden i ying issues,
po en ial imp o emen s and challenges conce ned wi h he label wi h a iew o nudging
consume s owa ds high ene gy-e iciency choices. To ha end, we ha e ca ied ou a
quali a i e analysis based on in-dep h in e iews wi h di e en agen s in Spain: membe s
o he public, appliance e aile s and academic expe s in he ield o ene gy.
Based on ou diagnosis o he EE label o appliances, we conclude ha i is gene ally
well-known, ega ded as eliable and gene ally use ul by consume s. Howe e , mos
consume s s ill seem un amilia wi h he eadjus ed o ma o he EE label o appliances.
In gene al, he main issue lies in he unde s anding o he con en p esen ed on he label
a he han in he design i sel . The colou ed alphabe ical EE scale seems o be liked and
well unde s ood. Mo eo e , he es o ed A–G scale o he eadjus ed label seems o be
a ed posi i ely.
Howe e , we ind comp ehension issues wi h ega d o (i) he in o ma ion on ene gy
consump ion (bo h in kWh pe yea and in kWh pe numbe o uses); and (ii) he echnical
in o ma ion, since consume s do no unde s and he uni s in which hey a e measu ed. To

Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 17 o 25
educe hese in o ma ion asymme ies, mone a y in o ma ion abou ene gy consump ion
( hough i is no clea whe he as a cos o a sa ing) seems o help consume s unde s and,
bu i is echnically challenging o p o ide due o he complexi y o he uni o measu emen
(ene gy cos o ene gy sa ings pe mon h, pe yea , o e he use ul li e ime o pe numbe
o uses). Fo echnical in o ma ion, mo e cla i y on wha each echnical symbol means
is ecommended, as a e e e ence le els o allow o compa isons. Howe e , his is also
echnically demanding and equi es a ious assump ions o be made.
Ou app oach has enabled us o conside he he e ogenei y o p e e ences and expe-
iences and o highligh mo i a ions which would be o e looked in quan i a i e s udies.
None heless, i may no be possible o gene alise ou indings o he whole popula ion,
as can be done wi h quan i a i e me hods. Fu he esea ch could be supplemen ed and
suppo ed by a quan i a i e analysis o assess, on a la ge scale, some o he issues wi h he
label iden i ied he e and some o he policy ins umen s b ie ly discussed.
Au ho Con ibu ions:
Concep ualiza ion, A.d.A.; Da a cu a ion, A.d.A. and M.d.M.S.; Fo mal
analysis, A.d.A.; Funding acquisi ion, A.d.A.; Me hodology, A.d.A. and M.d.M.S.; Supe ision,
A.d.A.; Valida ion, A.d.A.; W i ing—o iginal d a , A.d.A. and M.d.M.S.; W i ing— e iew & edi ing,
A.d.A. and M.d.M.S. All au ho s ha e ead and ag eed o he published e sion o he manusc ip .
Funding:
This esea ch was unded by Fundación Ramón A eces unde he p ojec en i led “La oma de
decisiones de los hoga es en e iciencia ene gé ica: de e minan es y diseño de polí icas”.
Ins i u ional Re iew Boa d S a emen : No applicable.
In o med Consen S a emen : No applicable.
Da a A ailabili y S a emen : No applicable.
Acknowledgmen s:
The au ho s acknowledge he suppo o Fundación Ramon A eces unde XVIII
Concu so Nacional pa a la Adjudicación de Ayudas a la In es igación en Ciencias Sociales. This s udy was
conduc ed as pa o he p ojec en i led “La oma de decisiones de los hoga es en e iciencia ene gé ica:
de e minan es y diseño de polí icas”.
Con lic s o In e es : The au ho s decla e no con lic o in e es .
Appendix A. In e iewees: Membe s o he Public, Re aile s and Expe s
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 18 o 25
Table A1. Sample o membe s o he public.
In e iewee Appliance Pu chased RENOVE
P og amme Gende Age Educa ion Le el Household Composi ion Employmen
Si ua ion
Household
Income Le el
(€/Mon h)
1F idge (4 yea s ago) NO Female 37 Uni e si y Ma ied couple (p egnan ) Unemployed 2500
2
Washing machine (3 yea s ago)
F idge (3 yea s ago)
Dishwashe (2 yea s ago)
NO Female 53 Voca ional
aining Couple wi h 3 child en Ho el indus y 2000
3Washing machine (4 yea s ago) NO Female 61 Voca ional
aining Li ing alone Re i ed 800
4Washing machine (4 yea s ago)
Dishwashe (2 yea s ago) YES Female 38 Uni e si y Ma ied couple wi h
3 child en Doc o 5000
5F idge (1 yea ago) YES Male 39 Uni e si y Ma ied couple wi h
2 child en Employee 4500
6Washing machine (1 yea ago)
F idge (1 yea ago) NO Male 24 Voca ional
aining
Li ing alone ( ecen ly
emancipa ed) Employee 1900
7
Washing machine (3 yea s ago)
F idge (3 yea s ago)
Dishwashe (2 yea s ago)
YES Female 68 Voca ional
aining Li ing alone Re i ed 700
8Washing machine (3 yea s ago)
F idge (4 yea s ago) YES Male 40 Voca ional
aining Couple wi h 2 child en Cleaning se ice 2000
9Washing machine (<1 yea ago)
F idge (3 yea s ago) YES Male 37 Uni e si y Li ing wi h pa en s Sel -employed 3600
10 Washing machine (1 yea ago)
Dishwashe (5 yea s ago) NO Male 56 Uni e si y Ma ied couple wi h
2 child en Financie N/A
11
Washing machine (<1 yea ago)
F idge (<1 yea ago)
Dishwashe (<1 yea ago)
NO Female 29 Uni e si y Couple ( ecen ly
emancipa ed) Adminis a i e 900
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 19 o 25
Table A2. Sample o e aile s.
In e iewee Type o Es ablishmen
1 Small
2 Medium
3 Small
4 Medium
5 Small
6 La ge
7 La ge
8 Small
9 Small
10 Medium
Table A3. Sample o expe s.
In e iewee Topic Posi ion
1 Ene gy and clima e change policies Senio consul an
2 Ene gy modelling Lec u e
3 Ene gy ma ke s Lec u e
4 Ene gy and clima e change policies Senio consul an
5 Ene gy e iciency Senio lec u e
6 Ene gy and clima e change policies; ene gy modelling P o esso
7 Ene gy e iciency Senio lec u e
8 Ene gy modelling P o esso
9 Ene gy ma ke s Depu y Di ec o
10 Ene gy e iciency Senio consul an
11 Ene gy modelling; ene gy e iciency P o esso
12 Ene gy modelling Senio esea che
Appendix B. Guideline o he In e iews (T ansla ed in o English)
The in-dep h in e iews used he ollowing gene al guideline.
No e: A he end o each ques ion o sec ion, he add essees (membe s o he public,
e aile s o expe s) a e speci ied in b acke s.
Appliances:
1.
Wha a e he main appliances a you home/in Spanish households/a you e aile ?
Could you please so hem in o de o impo ance? Why did you choose his o de ?
(Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
2.
Please so washing machines, dishwashe s and idges in o he o de o impo ance
o you household/Spanish households/cus ome s? Why did you choose his o de ?
(Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
Pu chasing decision-making
The ollowing ques ions e e o h ee main appliances: washing machines, idges
and dishwashe s.
1.
How long ago (in yea s) did you las buy a washing machine/ idge/dishwashe o
you home? (Public)
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 20 o 25
2.
Who made he decision o buy he new appliance? Did you make i alone o wi h
someone else? Wi h whom? Why? (Public)
3.
Why did you no bene i om he RENOVE p og amme when pu chasing he new ap-
pliance? (Membe s o he public who did no bene i om he RENOVE p og amme)
4.
Wha a ibu es did you/consume s/cus ome s conside when buying he new appli-
ance (e.g., p ice, b and, ene gy consump ion)? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
5.
Did you/consume s/cus ome s ake he ene gy e iciency label in o accoun when
buying he new appliance? Why? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
6.
Wha is he gene al ene gy e iciency le el o new appliance/s ha you/consume s/
cus ome s pu chase? High, medium o low? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
7.
I you cu en ly wan o buy a new appliance o you home, would you conside he
same a ibu es and in he same o de as in you las pu chase? O would you change
some hing? Wha and why? (Public)
8.
Would you ake he ene gy e iciency label in o accoun i you cu en ly wan o buy a
new appliance o you home? Why? (Public)
9.
Would you buy a new appliance o you home wi h a highe o lowe ene gy e i-
ciency le el han he p e ious one? Why? (Public)
10.
Do you hink he RENOVE plan o household appliances in luences pu chasing
decision-making by consume s? I so, how? (Expe s)
Ene gy e iciency and ene gy consump ion
1.
Wha do you/consume s/cus ome s unde s and by ene gy e iciency? Wi h wha
concep s do you/ hey ela e ene gy e iciency? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
2.
Wha do you hink is he gene al p o ile o he buye o a high ene gy-e iciency
appliance? (Expe s, Re aile s)
3.
Do you/consume s moni o he ene gy consump ion o appliances in he home? I so,
how (by wha me hods)? (Public, Expe s)
4.
Wha do you hink is mo e e ec i e o p omo ing ene gy sa ings: in e ening in he
pu chase decision and/o in e ening in ene gy use? Why? (Expe s)
Ene gy e iciency label o appliances
1.
How do you/consume s/cus ome s ob ain ene gy e iciency- ela ed in o ma ion on
an appliance when buying i ? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
2.
A e you/consume s/cus ome s amilia wi h he ene gy e iciency label o appli-
ances? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
3.
A e you/consume s amilia wi h he eadjus ed ene gy e iciency label o appliances
in use since Ma ch 2021? Wha do you/consume s hink abou i (compa ed o he
p e ious one)? (Public, Re aile s)
4. Wha do you hink abou he eadjus ed ene gy e iciency label o appliances in use
om Ma ch 2021 (compa ed o he p e ious one)? (Expe s)
5.
Was he EE label help ul in you /consume s’/cus ome s’ decision-making conce ning he
pu chase o a washing machine/dishwashe / idge? Why? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
6. To wha do you hink consume s mainly pay a en ion on he ene gy e iciency label
o appliances? Why? (Expe s)
7.
Do you hink consume s unde s and all he in o ma ion gi en on he ene gy e iciency
label o appliances? Why? (Expe s)
8.
Do cus ome s usually ask you o addi ional in o ma ion (o cla i ica ions) ega d-
ing any o he concep s o symbols ha appea on he ene gy e iciency label o
appliances? Which ones? (Re aile s)
9.
Do you/consume s/cus ome s us he in o ma ion on he label? Why? (Public,
Expe s, Re aile s)
Po en ial changes
1.
Do you hink he e is oom o imp o emen in he EE label? Wha ? How? Why?
(Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 21 o 25
2.
Do you hink i would be use ul o you/consume s/cus ome s o ha e isible mon-
e a y in o ma ion on he ene gy consump ion o he appliance (in eu os ins ead o
kWh) when buying? Why? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
3.
In wha o m would i be mos use ul o you/consume s/cus ome s o ha e his
mone a y in o ma ion on he ene gy consump ion o he appliance: as cos (in eu os)
o as sa ings (in eu os)? Why? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
4.
In wha uni would i be mos use ul o you/consume s/cus ome s o ha e his
mone a y in o ma ion (ene gy cos o sa ings): pe yea , pe mon h, pe use, o e he
use ul li e ime o he appliance o o he s? Why? (Public, Expe s, Re aile s)
5.
Do you hink he e is any o he way o in o m abou he ene gy consump ion and
e iciency o appliances apa om he cu en ene gy e iciency label ( e aile s, s ands,
apps, eal- ime in o ma ion, e c.)? Which one would you p e e ? Why? (Public,
Expe s, Re aile s)
The ole o sales s a (Re aile s)
1.
A e you up o da e on ene gy e iciency- ela ed issues o household appliances?
A e you amilia wi h he in o ma ion and echnical cha ac e is ics o appliances as
ega ds ene gy e iciency?
2.
Do cus ome s ask you o in o ma ion/explana ions abou he ene gy e iciency o he
appliance when pu chasing? Wha kind o in o ma ion do hey usually ask you o ?
3.
Wha o m o p o iding in o ma ion on ene gy e iciency do you hink has he mos
weigh in he pu chasing decision-making o a new appliance? Why?
4.
Does he RENOVE plan o appliances ha e an impac on you es ablishmen ’s sales?
How/in wha way? Why?
5.
Is he possible impac o he RENOVE plan on sales usually el only while he plan is
ongoing o also be o e and/o a e wa ds? Why?
6.
Does he RENOVE plan o household appliances usually a ec he s ock o household
appliances o e ed a you es ablishmen ? How/in wha way?
Appendix C. Analysis o In e iews
Table A4. Top h ee a ibu es men ioned pe p oduc ca ego y and g oup in e iewed.
Washing Machines F idges Dishwashe s
Public
1 Technical a ibu es (ease o use, sho
du a ion p og ammes, pm)
2 Capaci y
3 Ease o use
1 Capaci y
2 EE
3 Colou
1 Capaci y
2 EE
3 B and
Re aile s
1 P ice
2 pm/B and
3 EE
1 Dimensions
2
P ice/Technical a ibu es (dis ibu ion
o d awe s and No- os op ion)
3 B and
1 P ice
2 B and
3 Capaci y
Expe s
1 P ice
2 B and
3 EE
1 P ice
2 B and
3 EE
1 P ice
2 B and
3 EE
Sou ce: Own wo k based on in e iew analysis. No es: (a) The membe s o he public did no men ion he p ice
in hei lis as hey seem o conside i no as an a ibu e bu as a budge cons ain . (b) When wo a ibu es
a e p esen ed in he same ank o de (by a /) i is because hey we e men ioned he same numbe o imes
by pa icipan s.

Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 22 o 25
Table A5. Uni s o measu ing ene gy cos and ene gy sa ings men ioned by pa icipan s in all h ee ypes o in e iews (public, e aile s and expe s).
Cos Sa ings
Pe
Yea
Pe
Mon h
Pe Use ul
Li e
Pe
Uses Combina ion Pe
Yea
Pe
Mon h
Pe Use ul
Li e
Pe
Uses Combina ion
Public 2 1 1 1
1 (pe use/s o washing machines and
dishwashe s + pe mon h o idges) 1 2
1 (pe use/s o washing machines
and dishwashe s + pe mon h
o idges)
Re aile s
1 (pe use/s o washing machines and
dishwashe s + pe use ul li e
o idges)
311
1 (pe use/s o washing machines
and dishwashe s + pe mon h
o idges)
1 (pe use/s o washing machines
and dishwashe s + pe yea
o idges)
Expe s 4 1
1 (pe use/s o washing machines and
dishwashe s + pe mon h o idges)
1 (pe use ul li e + pe use o all)
2 1 3
TOTAL 6 1 2 4 6 1 4 3 3
Sou ce: Own wo k based on in e iew analysis.
Ene gies 2022,15, 4272 23 o 25
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