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Energy label lamps: Why good light gets an 'F'
The truth about the energy label for lamps
You've just bought a new LED lamp, unpacked it - and a big red "F" is smiling at you on the energy label. Wait a minute... didn't you deliberately choose a high-quality, efficient lamp? Is this now a bad purchase?
The short answer: No. The long answer begins with a look at the new EU energy labeling - and why healthy, full-spectrum light is systematically penalized today.
In this article, you will find out why many of the best light sources on the market in the energy class F and why this says nothing about their actual performance. light quality says.
What does the energy label for lamps actually mean?
The energy label you probably already know it from household appliances - refrigerators, washing machines and televisions have carried it for years. It is also intended to provide guidance for lamps and lights: It shows how efficiently a product uses energy, i.e. how much light (lumen) per consumed watt is generated.
Overview: Energy efficiency classes for LED lamps
| Class | Luminous efficacy (lm/W) | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| A | ≥ 210 | only achievable with extremely blue-heavy LEDs - unnatural |
| B | ≥ 185 | hardly achievable, only through spectrum distortion |
| C | ≥ 160 | technically possible, but mostly high blue peak |
| D | ≥ 135 | supposedly "efficient" standard LEDs |
| E | ≥ 110 | Good LEDs, but focus remains on efficiency |
| F | ≥ 85 | typical for full spectrum LEDs - natural colors & healthy spectrum |
| G | < 85 | no longer approved |
Since the revision of the EU energy label 2021, a new scale applies: A to G, without any plus classes such as A++ or A+++. The requirements have been drastically tightened, which in practice means that an LED lamp that would previously have received an A++ may now end up with an E or F. The reason for this is simple: the scale has been deliberately "opened up" to make room for future technological advances.
If you are new to the subject: our overview shows what good LED light quality really matters - from CRI to flicker-free: Understanding light quality.
Important: Energy efficiency class G no longer actually exists
For lamps and light sources there is the energy efficiency class G no longer exists in practice.
Why? Since the introduction of the new EU Regulation (EU) 2019/2015 in 2021, stricter requirements have applied to the minimum energy efficiency of light sources. It was stipulated that light sources must be at least 85 lumens per watt in order to be allowed to be sold at all. Products below this level may no longer be placed on the market.
As energy efficiency class G was intended precisely for light sources with less than 85 lm/W, it is de facto no longer usable for lamps and luminaires.
Why LED lamps now suddenly get an F
The new classification is based purely on the luminous efficacy - i.e. the ratio of luminous flux (lumens) to Power consumption (watts). The more lumens per watt, the better the efficiency class. Sounds logical at first.
But here's the catch: the higher the quality and more natural the light - i.e. the closer it is to the sunlight the lower the luminous efficacy tends to be. This is because in order to achieve a broad, natural color spectrum you have to make technical compromises that result in a supposedly "poorer" lumen/watt ratio.
If you want real full spectrum lightperhaps even with a proportion of NIR (near infrared light), you will never achieve the same efficiency values as with a cold, blue-heavy standard LED. And this is precisely the reason why healthy, high-quality light sources are automatically "devalued" in the energy efficiency class.
Why Full spectrum often delivers fewer lumens/watt - and still provides more natural light: Full spectrum LED explained.
Why healthy light performs worse
Many of the most efficient LEDs generate their high lumen value by means of an extreme blue peak. This is technically simple, costs little electricity - but has its price: these light sources often appear harsh, unnatural and can damage your health in the long term. biorhythm disturbed.
Blue light in the evening inhibits the melatonin productionaffects your sleep and can even be harmful to your health in the long term. High quality full spectrum LEDs on the other hand, rely on a balanced spectrum - with soft blue, rich red tones and optionally even NIR components.
The problem is that the new energy label penalizes precisely such light sources because they deliver fewer lumens per watt due to the system. The measurement method takes neither color renderingnor light spectrumnor biologically relevant factors such as NIR.
For natural colors, the CRI/Ra is decisive for natural colors - not the efficiency class. Read more: CRI / color rendering.
"F" stands for misunderstood - not for poor quality
When you discover our new LED bulbs in the Lichtblick store in a few months' time, you will see exactly that: The warm white version with 2700 K will have a CRI (Ra) of 98 . The neutral white version with 4000 K even Ra 99. Both models offer you an extremely natural color rendering, a pleasant, biologically compatible spectrum - and yet there will still be an "F" on the energy label. Not because they are bad. But because we have deliberately decided against a maximized lumen/watt ratio and in favor of a healthy light spectrum.
What the label doesn't say - but you should know
The new energy efficiency label tells you how much light you get for how much electricity. But it doesn't tell you how the light feels. It tells you nothing about:
- Color representation (CRI) - crucial for natural colors and skin tones
- Light color (Kelvin) - warm white, neutral or daylight white
- Spectrum - whether harmful blue peak or pleasant balance
- Flicker-free - important for your eyes
- NIR proportion - can be relevant for regeneration and well-being
These aspects are completely missing from the label - although they are often more important for your everyday life than a general efficiency class.
How much lumens you really need per room can be found here: Lumen light requirement.
Energy label: A one-sided rating system
The aim of the new scale was clear: more transparency and more pressure on manufacturers to develop more energy-efficient products. In practice, however, this causes frustration - especially among informed buyers who consciously pay attention to healthy light.
This is because the new classification takes the choice away from you. Light sources with under 85 lm/W may simply no longer be sold - regardless of how good the spectrum, how high the CRI or how pleasant the light is. Today, manufacturers who deliberately opt for NIR or a spectrum that is particularly easy on the eyes have no choice but to put E or F on the label: E or F on the label.
The regulation Power saving over light quality - and ignores how closely lighting and health are linked.
What you should look out for when buying
The energy label can be a rough guide - but you should never evaluate it in isolation. When buying LED lamps and lights, pay attention to the following points:
- CRI value (Ra): 90 and above is good, 95 and above is really natural
- Light color (Kelvin): Preferably warm white (2700 K) in the evening, neutral white (4000 K) during the day
- Light output: Not just the figures - the spectrum check
- Scan the QR code: Takes you to the EU database with lots of additional information
- Check manufacturer's specifications: Is there a spectrum? Indications of blue peak or NIR?
After all, what good is an A-class lamp if it is harsh, unpleasant or disturbs sleep?
How exactly is energy efficiency actually calculated?
The energy label doesn't just rate power consumption - it is based on a complex calculation model. At its core, it is about the ratio of luminous flux (lumens) to the energy consumed electrical power (watts). This ratio is called luminous efficacy (lumens per watt).
However, the EU does not only calculate with the visible values. The calculation also includes the so-called Total Mains Factor is also included. This takes into account losses caused by power supply units, ballasts or internal electronics - particularly relevant for permanently installed LED modules. Although this makes the calculation more realistic, it puts light sources with a more complex technical design at a disadvantage - for example with a sophisticated spectrum or additional filters against flicker and blue peaks.
The energy efficiency label on the packaging is therefore only the end result of a technical calculation. It can give you an indication of how energy-efficient a lamp is according to EU regulations - but says nothing about how high quality or pleasant the light actually is.
Why energy efficiency is not everything
Of course it makes sense to pay attention to low power consumption. Nobody wants to waste energy unnecessarily. But light sources are about more than just efficiency.
If you only rate an LED according to how many lumens it produces per watt, you are overlooking the essentials: How does the light feel? How does it affect your eyes, your sleep, your everyday life?
This is why the topic of energy efficiency should always be considered in context. Today, meaningful labeling should not only include lumens and watts, but also other parameters.
Energy efficiency classes: Saving energy - but not at any price, please
It is understandable that the EU wanted to create standardized energy efficiency classes to provide consumers with quick orientation. And yes - when buying a new fridge or washing machine, an A on the label makes perfect sense.
But when it comes to lighting, this type of labeling often misses the mark. This is because it is not just the energy consumption that is decisive here, but above all the quality of light the actual added value in everyday life.
People who work a lot at home, sit in front of a screen or deal with topics such as biohacking, circadian rhythm or light therapy are particularly aware of this: A blanket classification in A-G is not enough. They need more information - and transparency about what light does to their own bodies.
Energy efficiency is still important
We are in agreement: Energy efficiency is important. A conscious approach to energy consumption should be a matter of course. But if the current energy efficiency labeling system means that the best, healthiest and most eye-friendly LED modules fall into the worst class - then something is going wrong.
With the new regulation of energy efficiency classes, the EU has created a rigid system that focuses primarily on numbers on paper - not on what really counts: Well-being, health and light quality.
That's why we say quite clearly: an "F" on the label is not a flaw - but often a sign of well thought-out lighting technology that has not been optimized for maximum lumens, but for people. It can mean that you have made a conscious choice for healthy, high-quality light.
The best LED light sources on the market - such as our upcoming Lichtblockbulbs - combine maximum color depth, pleasant light color and a well thought-out spectrum. And they have an "F". What does that mean for you? If you opt for LEDs from Lichtblock you are consciously choosing real light that is good for you - even if the label says it is inefficient.
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Danke für die Erklärungen. Die Tatsache, dass die Skala verschoben wurde, ist zwar auf den ersten Blick ein Nachteil. In der Realität spielt es keine Rolle. Wenn eine Lampe 8 w verbraucht, ist es ein guter Wert, egal welche Buchstabe. Früher haben die Birnen mindestens 25 w gebraucht, aber öfter 40, 60 oder 100 w. Also unter 10 w ist meiner Meinung nach effizient genug. Man könnte viel Licht sparen, indem man nicht das ganze Haus jeden Abend in einen Weihnachtsbaum umwandeln würde