Petition to the European Commission on Energy Labeling for Air Conditioners

We, the undersigned, call on the European Commission and relevant regulatory bodies to revise the criteria for energy efficiency labeling of air conditioners.

Class A (and higher) ratings should only be granted to units that meet the following operational conditions:

Heating mode: maximum setpoint temperature of 23°C (inclusive).
Cooling mode: minimum setpoint temperature of 23°C (inclusive).
Automatic mode: temperature regulation at 23°C ±1.5°C with the compressor off whenever possible.

If these conditions are not met, even if the unit achieves excellent COP or SEER values, the highest assignable class should be B.

There is no point in consumers purchasing an A+++ unit if they run it at full power all day — efficiency must reflect realistic and responsible usage, not just laboratory performance.

The same logic should we applied to all the thermostats and all heating/cooling devices.

Moreover we call on the European Commission to introduce regulations prohibiting the operation of outdoor heating systems (such as gas or electric patio heaters, halogen or quartz lamps) when the ambient temperature exceeds 15°C, and to ban the use of outdoor cooling devices (including fans and misting systems) when the temperature is below 23°C. Such measures would significantly reduce unnecessary energy waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and promote more responsible and sustainable use of climate control technologies in public and private outdoor spaces.