Window-label
(final name still missing)
Relevance
Labelling for energy-efficient windows has been piloted in Finland in order to establish a rating system on the window market.
Target
Energy labelling of windows helps buyers to choose windows with good energy economy. The buyers can compare various brands carrying the label and indicating the efficiency rating in the range of A-G in the same way as household appliances on the basis of their energy consumption.
Product/service group
The products concerned are windows for houses and apartment buildings.
The rating is not valid for spaces that are air-conditioned.
Awarding Institution & criteria
The criteria to be applied in the labelling were established in co-operation between Motiva, the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) and the Finnish window-manufacturing industry.
The rating is based on tests carried out in VTT. The parameters tested are heat transmission, solar radiation transmission and air tightness, following the respective standard testing procedures.
Control mechanisms
As the pilot phase of the labelling system has come to an end (beginning of 2006) the routines for the control mechanisms are being established.
Charges
The window-manufactures that participated in the pilot project paid part of the development costs.
The policy for fees is a topic in the preparatory work for the permanent labelling system.
Relevance on the market
Introducing the rating and energy labelling for windows is in line with the needs to improve end-use energy efficiency to contribute to the greenhouse gas mitigation target and to the implementation of the regulations of the directive on energy efficiency of buildings.
The piloting phase of rating and labelling covered 160 different windows from 8 Finnish manufacturers representing a major share of the brands on the Finnish window market. With that experience the labelling system can be considered mature for commercial application in the country.
Energy labelling of windows has already been taken into use in Canada, Denmark, UK and Australia. Using those as examples the criteria could be set in Finland taking the local environment into consideration, e.g. in terms of the weather conditions.
