metro india news  I new delhi

In a significant push towards energy conservation, the government has made energy efficiency star-labelling mandatory for a wider range of household and industrial appliances from January 1, according to a gazette notification issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).

Under the new regulation, mandatory star labelling will now apply to refrigerators, televisions, LPG gas stoves, cooling towers and chillers. The move aims to help consumers make informed choices while encouraging manufacturers to adopt higher energy-efficiency standards.

The regulation will also cover deep freezers, distribution transformers and grid-connected solar inverters. Earlier, star labelling for many of these products was voluntary, including frost-free and direct cool refrigerators, deep freezers, room air conditioners such as cassette and tower ACs, colour televisions and ultra-high-definition televisions.

An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the list of appliances covered under mandatory star labelling is reviewed and updated periodically in line with technological advancements and energy-saving priorities. “The objective is to gradually bring more appliances under the energy efficiency framework to reduce overall power consumption,” the official said.

The draft regulation for extending mandatory star labelling to these appliances was released in July 2025 and placed in the public domain for feedback. The final notification incorporates suggestions and concerns raised by various stakeholders, including manufacturers and consumer groups.

Star labelling is already mandatory for several commonly used appliances such as room air conditioners (both fixed and variable speed), electric ceiling fans, stationary storage-type electric water heaters, washing machines, tubular fluorescent lamps and self-ballasted LED lamps. Officials noted that while these products were already covered, the norms have been progressively upgraded to ensure higher levels of energy efficiency and lower electricity consumption over time.