In the Netherlands, some product categories, cars, and buildings must carry an energy label. The energy label includes information about the product's energy consumption. It also states the efficiency in comparison to similar products.
Cars
All new cars must have an energy label that states the car's fuel economy in relation to other cars of the same category. Depending on the energy label, the purchaser of a car may receive a discount on the purchase tax (private vehicle and motorcycle tax, BPM).
Car tyres
Do you sell car tyres? You must include a European tyre label. This gives information about the fuel economy, safety, and noise of the tyre. All European car tyre sellers need to use the European label. This means that:
- all tyres on your premises should carry the label (sticker)
- you must inform clients about the label
- the invoice should state the tyre label
- you should show the label on your website and in your promotional material
Electrical equipment
An energy label is obligatory for electrical household appliances such as:
- fridges and freezers
- washing machines and washer-dryers
- dishwashers
- televisions
- ovens
- vacuum cleaners
- lighting products
- central heating boilers
- air conditioners
Are you a manufacturer?
Are you a manufacturer of electrical appliances? You have to measure how energy-efficient the appliance is. The details must be recorded on a label. You have to send this label to the shopkeeper along with the product. The shopkeeper attaches the label to the device. The energy label must always be visible on the product.
Registration
Are you a manufacturer or importer and do you want to sell appliances that require an energy label? You must register such appliances in the European Product Database for Energy Labelling (EPREL), before selling them on European markets.
Energy labels for houses
Houses and apartments must have an energy label (in Dutch) when they are being built, sold or rented. The owner must hand over the certificate to the purchaser or tenant. The certificate must be issued by a certified advisor.
Energy labels for non-residential buildings
Public buildings, such as schools, offices, shops, or hospitals, should also have an energy certificate (in Dutch) when they are built, sold, or rented out. Only a certified energy adviser (in Dutch) can draft and apply for an energy label. The label is valid for a maximum of 10 years.
Offices
From 1 January 2023 offices measuring 100m2 or more must have at least an energy label C (in Dutch). for older, but still valid, labels this is an energy index of 1.3 or better. If an office does not comply with this requirement it can no longer be used as an office from that date. This applies to offices that are part of a building as well as free-standing office buildings.
Public buildings
Do you own a public building with a surface area of more than 250 m2? For instance, a supermarket or other shop, a restaurant, theatre, bank, or hotel? Then you must place the energy label clearly visible to all visitors, for instance, at the reception desk or near the entrance of the building. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (Inspectie Leefomgeving and Transport, ILT) sees to the presence of your label.
The energy performance of buildings is determined with NTA 8800 and provides information about the energy quality of the home or building. You can look up the energy label of a building online (in Dutch).
