Euroconsumers members OCU, Altroconsumo, Testachats and DecoProteste are part of the EPREL Services Project, which is advancing how consumers can access information on products with energy-labels.

The project which is co-funded by the European Union under the LIFE Programme will make the existing EPREL database of product information into place where consumers can quickly search, filter and compare energy-labelled products-complete with harmonised efficiency ratings, technical details and running-cost data.   

Our members have been part of delivering a new survey with 2,500 consumers and stakeholders in 10 European countries to find out what consumers wanted from this type of service, what they valued most and what would make them use it.  

What consumers think of energy information tools for purchasing decisions

• • There’s big potential to make more of EPREL’s data: the survey showed that over 90% of consumers rely heavily on online information for purchasing decisions, but that the information from the EPREL database and QR codes on energy labels are often overlooked and underused.
• • What consumers value in information tools: when consumers search and compare products using online tools, they first of all prioritize comprehensive product information and effective filters. Their next most valued features are the ability to compare items and sort them by price, specific attributes, or brand.
• • What information tools do they use most? When buying energy-labelled products, consumers most frequently rely on product review and product testing platforms, along with price comparison tools. Customer feedback platforms are used less often, while sustainability calculators are the least well known.

What influences purchasing decisions for energy-labelled products?

Cost considerations remain the biggest influence on purchasing decisions. Consumers do value the energy efficiency of products, but the importance they put on this shifts by product category.  Across all the different product types, consumers ranked warranties as key to purchasing decisions which reflects the importance consumers put on product durability.

Both tables above show the average values consumers assigned for importance rated on a scale from 0 to 3, with higher values representing greater importance. Source: EPREL Services survey 2025

What consumers want EPREL to prioritise

The EPREL Services Project wants to unlock the full value of the EPREL database, and listening carefully to what consumers want and how they would use it will be a crucial part of its success. 

Consumer feedback pointed to key priorities for EPREL’s future development including increasing visibility of its resources, improving the clarity and accessibility of technical information and accelerating and refining search and filtering capabilities. 

All of the findings from the research will be fed into a new web application that will merge comprehensive product data – including energy consumption and efficiency, and technical features – into a user-friendly platform. 

Thoughtful, consumer-centered design will enable the next generation of EPREL services to meet its goal of empowering consumers and professionals to make smarter, more sustainable purchasing decisions. This will ultimately move us towards a more energy-efficient Europe.

Methodology

The EPREL Services Project consortium which includes Altroconsumo, Testachats, OCU and DECO Proteste conducted a survey of consumers and stakeholders between November 2024 and January 2025 with approximately 2,500 consumers across Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain. The survey focused on the EPREL database, specifically, consumer awareness of it, and more broadly, the key factors people consider when selecting energy-related products.

More about EPREL Project Services: 

The EU-wide EPREL database of energy labelled products was established in 2019. The EPREL Services Project is now transforming how consumers and professionals can access that rich data and rely on it for sustainable purchasing decisions. The project to enhance the database includes: 

• • Developing a new modular web application tailored to the needs of consumers, procurers, retailers, and policymakers. 
• • Ensuring data quality through technical software tools and monitoring processes, in collaboration with suppliers. 
• • Raising awareness of EPREL and new tools among stakeholders. 
• • Improving existing product information platforms by adding EPREL data and facilitating direct links
• • Promoting broad adoption through tailored communication and dissemination strategies. 

Project partners

Austrian Energy Agency, Austria (lead co-ordinator)

BIG2GREAT APS, Denmark

SEVEN, The Energy Efficiency Center, Czechia

ADENE, Agência para a Energia, Portugal

Guide Topten SARL, France

Altroconsumo, Italy

Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving Foundation (CRES), Greece

Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Énergie (ADEME), France

Krajowa Agencja Poszanowania Energii Spolka Akcyjna (KAPE), Poland

OCU, Spain

Testachats, Belgium

GS1 in Europe, Belgium

DECO PROTeste, Portugal