Using a formal tested methodology, ATLETE project set out to demonstrate that market surveillance activities for household appliance energy labelling are essential, technically possible and cost effective. By testing 80 randomly selected refrigerating appliances ATLETE project has for the first time conducted a European-wide market surveillance on a EU policy measure.

The final test results show that 80% of appliances subjected to testing and for which testing has been concluded complied with the energy efficiency class declaration and the two related key parameters: energy consumption and storage volume.

But when all five parameters are taken into consideration 57% of them do not comply with at least one of the tested parameters. (See the final results summary)

All test results and test reports for each individual model are publicly available on this website and have been shared with the EU Member State Market Surveillance Authorities, media, experts and stakeholders.

The project had a very concrete result on a number of models tested. In 25 specific examples, the manufacturers accepted the results of Step I (first model tested) and agreed to make specific remedy actions, such as the correction of the label declarations and/or of the technical fiche, the improvement of the product's documentation and user manual, as well as the printed and web catalogues. In some cases the production of the model was discontinued. In a specific case, due to the ATLETE test result findings, a manufacturer has discovered - and then solved - a problem having occurred in the production of batch of products, another example of improvement includes a product update also for the succeeding model range, if the original model was not distributed anymore after the publication of the test results.

The project results and reaction from manufacturers indicate that similar activities are needed, and that improvement in label compliance is possible (see the "ATLETE results" page for more information and data).