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LED Energy Ratings Explained: What A–G Means After Halogens
Why Energy Ratings Changed After Halogens
Lighting energy labels have changed — and for good reason. As LED technology advanced, older rating systems became meaningless, with most products clustered at the top. The current A–G scale restores clarity, accuracy, and long-term relevance.
This shift coincided with the discontinuation of halogen lighting, marking a permanent change in how efficiency is measured and regulated.
Why Energy Labels Were Reset
Under the old A+, A++, and A+++ system, efficiency improvements outpaced the scale itself. Nearly every LED sat at the top, making comparison impossible.
The A–G system deliberately resets expectations. Today’s ratings are stricter by design, leaving space for future innovations while making efficiency differences visible again.
Understanding the Current A–G Scale
The modern energy label ranks lighting products from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). Importantly, these categories are not equivalent to older ratings.
An LED rated F today can still be significantly more efficient than an A++ lamp from a decade ago. The scale has changed — the technology has improved.
Understanding the New EU & UK Energy Label
To make energy efficiency clearer and more realistic, the EU and UK replaced the old A+, A++, and A+++ system with a simplified A–G scale. This change reflects real-world performance rather than inflated ratings.
How Old Ratings Compare to the New A–G Scale
The previous energy rating system made most LED lamps appear equally efficient, offering little useful comparison. The new A–G scale spreads products more evenly, making efficiency differences easier to understand.
The new A–G scale is intentionally stricter. Very few LED lamps currently achieve an A rating, ensuring the system remains meaningful as technology improves.
Why Halogen Lighting Disappeared
Halogen lamps convert most of their energy into heat rather than light. Under modern testing standards, they consistently fall into the lowest efficiency categories.
With LEDs offering dramatically lower energy use, longer lifespan, and better performance, halogen lighting could no longer meet minimum efficiency requirements.
Energy Ratings vs Brightness
Energy labels do not measure brightness. They measure efficiency — how effectively electrical energy is converted into light.
Brightness is measured in lumens. A lower-rated LED can still be brighter than a higher-rated one if it is designed for higher output.
Learn how lumens affect brightness →
Understand warm vs cool lighting →
See how beam angle changes light spread →
Why CRI matters for real colour →
Why Many LEDs Now Appear Lower Rated
After the reset, many efficient LEDs moved into E or F categories. This does not indicate worse performance — it reflects a more demanding measurement system.
The new scale prevents label inflation and ensures that efficiency improvements remain meaningful over time.
Choosing LED Lighting Intelligently
The best lighting choices balance efficiency with light quality. Energy ratings matter, but they are only one part of the picture.
Consider how much light is needed, how it is distributed, how colours appear, and how the space is used. Well-designed LEDs deliver comfort, clarity, and efficiency together.
Conclusion
The A–G energy rating system brings honesty back to lighting efficiency. Halogen lighting disappeared because it could not compete. LEDs dominate because they do more with less.
Understanding energy labels is useful — understanding light itself leads to better decisions.
Learn More Energy Efficiency →
Shop LED Lighting →
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