We are projected to spend one hour every week vacuuming. This fairly basic truth does make calculating the cost of power use simple. New EU regulations effective from 1st September 2014, mean that vacuum cleaners sold in the EU are required to have an energy label the A to G ratings will cover energy use, cleaning performance on carpets and hard floors, and dust emissions. You simply look for your vacuums motor power, usually quoted in watts, then use Sust-it’s energy calculator to workout the running costs and multiply by fifty-two!
So, are energy-efficient vacuum cleaners available? Here is when things get more difficult! Together with the ever growing list of vacuum cleaners good for pet hair, hard floors or allergy sufferers you might notice manufacturers boasting an eco vacuum cleaner as part of their range; low wattage models with a claim of the same sucking power as higher wattage motors. Nonetheless, upright vacuum cleaners are often more energy efficient than cylinder versions since the additional tubes and pipes used by cylinder vacuums need more energy to produce suction. When you consider the possibility of defective seals in the pipes, an upright is an excellent green decision. Then there are the efficiency of the technologies utilized, such as centrifugal fan systems and microprocessor control; better pipe and nozzle design, all of which have an influence. Also, ensuring sure your filters are clean and your bag (if it has one) isn’t too full will all make a difference. The longer you vacuum, the more money you will spend!
What size motor should you get? From the 1960s, vacuum cleaner input power ratings have climbed substantially, from a normal 500W to over 2500W today! If you vacuum five times faster, you’ll be consuming the same amount of electricity. If time is not a problem, a less powerful model may suffice. Air watts are a European vacuum test standard (IEC60312). An upright vacuum cleaner should have around 100 air watts, whereas a cylinder vacuum cleaner should have approximately 220 air watts. However, in addition to having to display energy labels on vacuum cleaners, the regulations mean that manufacturers will not be able to make or import vacuum cleaners with motors that exceed 1,600 watts. There is some dispute regarding whether it makes sense to remove these bigger motors from the market; after all, lesser wattage vacuum cleaners would take longer and consume more energy. The challenge for manufacturers will be to create machines that utilize the least amount of energy.
As Marlene Holzner, European Commission spokesman reported in 2013 “The amount [wattage] does not automatically indicate how well a vacuum cleaner will clean. The quantity [wattage] reflects how much electrical power the engine consumes. The crucial issue is, “How well is this power transferred into dust collection?” And the regulations are getting tougher a power levels are due to be reduced further from September 2017, when it will be cut to just 900 watts.
Our advise would be to opt for an upright type and seek for the air watts numbers (manufacturers are not obliged to publish this though).