The Mandatory Energy Performance Management Program
Will Add 6 New Product Labels

See also: Capability Profile of Phuc Gia Testing, Inspection, and Certification Center

The energy label with the Energy-Saving symbol (also known as the Vietnam Energy Star) is displayed on products circulating in the market when these products achieve or exceed the high energy efficiency standards determined by the Ministry of Industry and Trade for each period.

The energy labeling program is a state management measure aimed at promoting the production and use of high-performance equipment, gradually phasing out low-efficiency, outdated products to foster a culture of efficient and sustainable consumption within the community.

Mr. Dang Hai Dung, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Steering Committee for Energy Saving under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, shared detailed insights in an interview regarding the achievements of the energy labeling program and its implementation roadmap for the upcoming phase.

Mandatory Energy Labels: include the identification label (triangle shape) and the comparison label (ranging from 1 star to 5 stars).

Voluntary Energy Label (Highest Energy Performance Star Label) is designated for products with the highest energy efficiency on the market.

Interviewer: Could you share the significance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s energy labeling program for energy-saving goals and consumers?

Mr. Dang Hai Dung: The market transformation and energy performance management program for energy-using appliances and equipment have been codified in Chapter IX of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy (Articles 37, 38, 39, and 40). Detailed regulations are provided in Decree No. 21/2011/ND-CP and Decision No. 51/2011/QD-TTg (now replaced by Decision No. 04/2017/QD-TTg), which specify the list of appliances and equipment subject to energy labeling and minimum energy performance standards.

The energy labeling program mandates that manufacturers and traders must transparently disclose the energy efficiency of their products during production and business operations. Additionally, outdated, low-energy-efficiency appliances and equipment that fail to meet minimum standards are prohibited from being manufactured and sold in the market.

Energy labels serve as a tool to provide information about a product’s energy consumption, allowing consumers to understand the efficiency and electricity-saving potential of appliances, thereby enabling them to choose high-quality, energy-efficient products.

---

Interviewer: How has the Ministry of Industry and Trade implemented the energy labeling program?

Mr. Dang Hai Dung: Vietnam’s energy labeling and minimum energy performance management program began in 2011 as a voluntary initiative and became mandatory two years later, in 2013.

The program is executed by developing 50 national standards for 19 types of energy-consuming devices, categorized into four main groups: household products, industrial equipment, business equipment, and transportation devices. Compliance with energy performance standards is monitored through 12 testing laboratories nationwide to ensure accuracy, transparency, and to prevent fraud in energy performance declarations.

---

Interviewer: What are the notable achievements of the energy labeling program?

Mr. Dang Hai Dung: The energy labeling program has achieved the following key results:

• After Decision No. 51/2011/QD-TTg was issued, 45 million incandescent light bulbs with power ratings exceeding 60W were immediately removed from the domestic lighting market annually. This paved the way for the development of high-efficiency lighting products such as CFLs and LEDs, significantly raising public awareness about energy-efficient lighting.
• Today, nearly 100% of households and businesses in Vietnam use energy-saving bulbs (CFLs and LEDs) for lighting, with only a few exceptions for specific applications (e.g., agriculture, poultry farming).
• The program has labeled almost all residential air conditioners (<40,000 BTU) available in the market. Among these, 62.8% are rated 4-star to 5-star for energy performance. By raising the energy efficiency standards for air conditioners, electricity savings exceed 100 million kWh annually, equivalent to the capacity of a 300MW thermal power plant.
• The Ministry of Industry and Trade’s initiative to replace electric water heaters with solar water heaters has distributed 110,000 units nationwide, saving over 1 billion kWh annually, equal to VND 1,600 billion in electricity costs.

Other products like electric motors, distribution transformers, refrigerators, fans, and rice cookers also contribute to billions of dollars in national savings on energy production.

---

Interviewer: What types of energy labels are available, and how do consumers recognize them?

Mr. Dang Hai Dung: There are two main types of energy labels: mandatory and voluntary.

1. Mandatory Labels: These include:
   • Identification Label (Triangle): Indicates the minimum energy performance achieved by the product, allowing it to be sold in the market.
   • Comparison Label (Stars): Ranges from 1 to 5 stars, with higher stars signifying better energy efficiency, helping consumers identify high-performance products.
2. Voluntary Labels: Reserved for products with the highest energy efficiency on the market. Businesses self-declare the energy performance of their products and submit the data to the regulatory authority. Products surpassing 5-star standards and certified by the Ministry of Industry and Trade can receive this label.

---

Interviewer: What is the future roadmap for energy labeling?

Mr. Dang Hai Dung: Resolution No. 55-NQ/TW (February 11, 2020) emphasizes the gradual elimination of outdated appliances and technology. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with other ministries, is reviewing current standards and infrastructure to expand the energy management and labeling program.

By 2025, the program is expected to introduce energy performance regulations for new products such as induction cooktops, infrared stoves, VRV air conditioners, and LED lights, with the aim of promoting higher energy efficiency and sustainable consumption.