Only more environmentally-friendly vacuum cleaners can be used to clean our houses, Brussels has decreed.

New EU rules came into force at the beginning of this month but machines already purchased can be retained until they become unusable.

The rules, which introduce new EU-wide energy and performance requirements for vacuum cleaners, are aimed at saving energy and complement similar initiatives a few years ago regarding fridges and freezers.

All vacuum cleaners on sale have to include labelling information on efficiency, energy use, dust re-emissions and noise level.

The appliance’s efficiency will now also have to be rated on an A to G scale in an energy label.

The new legislation looks at power but also on cleaning performance as dust pick-up is part of the new rules.

New models must meet minimum requirements based on a practical test that measures the pick-up.

Contrary to perception, the amount of power (wattage) of a vacuum cleaner does not automatically indicate how well it will clean. Watts only show how much electrical power the motor uses.

The rules are aimed at saving energy

Although wattage had recently become a marketing tool, promoting the idea that the more power it consumes the more efficient the appliance is, the side effect is that a lot is wasted and not turned into suction. Yet, the consumer is still paying for the extra power.

According to the new rules, vacuum cleaners of over 1,600 watts will be banned and the allowed energy consumed by the cleaning appliance will be cut to just 900 watts by September 2017.

The average vacuum cleaner uses about 1,800 watts.

According to an EU study, more efficient vacuum cleaners will save nine terawatt-hours of energy by 2020, which is equivalent to the production of more than four power plants or the consumption of 5.5 million households.

According to the European Commission, industry has generally already adapted to the new rules.