The Energy Saving Label lays down requirements for energy efficiency, light quality and durability
To qualify for the A-rated bulb overview, a bulb must fulfil the Trust's requirements for lifetime, colour quality, efficiency and luminous flux. Information on lifetime and luminous flux must be displayed on the packaging.
Requirements for A-rated bulbs
In order to qualify for the Energy Saving Label a bulb should be energy class A and must fulfil a number of requirements. Producers of A-rated bulbs must document that bulbs fulfil the requirements in relation to the European CFLs Quality Charter for energy saving bulbs / Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 of 18 March 2009 covering the phasing out of incandescent bulbs, including the ecodesign requirements for energy saving bulbs, per the following:
- Lifetime
The lifetime should be at least 6,000 hours. - Light reduction
After 2,000 hours of use the light output must be at least 85% of the lumen value printed on the packaging. However, for types with a so-called external casing (typically bulb and globe-shaped A-rated bulbs) the requirement is at least 80%. - Switch on/off
The ignition requirement for A-rated bulbs is that they can be switched on and off the same number of times as the bulb’s stated lifetime in hours as shown on the packaging. The requirement for lifetime is at least 6,000 hours which is equivalent to circa 6 years. The on/off test is based on an on/off cycle of 1 minute on and 3 minutes off until the bulb has been used for 50% of its life. - Colour rendering index
Requirement for colour rendering index, CRI (also known in Denmark as Ra index) is 80 minimum. - Colour temperature
Colour temperature must be between 2,600 K and 3,000K.
Ongoing quality control
The Trust carries out random tests to check that recommended bulbs comply with the requirements. Bulbs are tested in Denmark by DELTA’s accredited lighting test laboratory. If the results show that an A-rated bulb does not fulfil the requirements it is removed from the list and the test results publicised.
EU Energy Labelling from A-G
All bulbs listed on the overview of A-rated bulbs comply with the EU A-rated labelling requirements.
| Label | Light source |
| A | The most energy efficient energy saving bulbs (with edison base), e.g. A-rated energy saving bulbs - the most energy efficient fluorescent tubes |
| B | The least energy efficient energy saving bulbs (with edison base), e.g. B-rated energy saving bulbs - the least energy efficient fluorescent tubes |
| C | Small low voltage halogen bulbs with pin bases |
| D | 230 V halogen bulbs |
| E-G | All types of tungsten filament bulbs |
Page last updated 28.10.2009