EU rules to ban vacuum cleaners above 1600 Watts from 1st Sepember

It's simply the case that manufacturers can now make vacuum cleaners that are much more efficient, whilst using much less electricity.

It's good. (You have to make the buggers come up with these things, or else they won't bother)

With all these homes occupied by one person only, there are a heck of a lot of vaccies out there.

I possess 4, please do not ask!

One-person homes don't make as much dirt as big familes, so the vacuum would not be used as often, so would use less power than first appears.

I don't know when this was first enacted, so I don't know how long the manufacturers have had to change their ranges. It has been obvious for ages that we need to use less power more efficiently.

Apparently the next ten days are a good time to buy a powerful one, if that is what you are after, as all the ones in stock rooms will be reduced.

Apparently most of the vacuum cleaners thrown at the tip are perfectly fine- but just need the filter cleaning!!!! Crazy

People in general are not very savvy about how to use and maintain technical things, even simple technology like vacuum cleaners.

I think, seriously, hair dryers are next, read that somewhere.

I hope they don't reduce the spin on my washing machine

glamma I am sure I heard that w/machines and hairdryers are on the list. We will be returning to hand washing soon. I rarely use a hairdryer so that would not worry me.

I'm sick of EU Directives. The sooner we're out, the better.

It seems a daft idea, however powerful a domestic hoover does anyone use for more than an hour a week? I certainly never have.

Having said that, I bought a new hoover last week. It is a Bosch GL 30. as far as I can see the motor size exceeds recommendation. I put it on this morning, by accident,with the dial set for full power and it nearly sucked the floorboards up. I have now set it at the lowest setting and from the sound of the dust and grit rattling up the hose, I am going to have exceedingly clean floors and rugs!

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the power these appliances use, I can't help resenting being told what to do by beaurocrats in Europe. Even if they are right. Petty of me? Yeah, maybe.

What about the consequences of obtaining spare parts in the future for machines purchased in good faith.

What about the impact on jobs for those employed in the EU.

The machines that will no longer be available are usually the ones that have made into the Which top ten list, because they are good.

If the blasted EU parliament is so concerned about saving energy then it could start in it's own backyard, Strasbourg and the continual waste of money and it's non eco friendly carbon footprint could be a starter.

Whilst people continue to fly around the world for no other reason than a holiday, I hardly think cutting the motor size of a vacuum cleaner is going to save the planet. I've got 3 dogs, a 1600 watt vacuum would be useless, I don't care how efficient they are. They're not efficient when they're clogged up with a carrier bag full of dog hairs and aren't going to last 5 minutes. have the EU not got anything better to do with their time.

Reducing the spin speed of washers would be counter productive as people would just use more heat trying to get their washing dry. Can only rely on the weather to dry washing for about 2 weeks out of the whole year.

have 2 vax's (it is justified so don't ask - one for upstairs and one for downstairs) with 2000 watts - specifically for pet hairs (will a 1600 watt get them up or will I spend twice as long hoovering!)
so many don't realise bag-less vacuums need cleaning out, filters washing
- I know my mother didn't at first.
agree there are far more contributary factors to waste of energy than a weekly vacuum.

Have just ordered a Roomba - 33 Watt. That is well with the limits!

I would have thought that as the manufacturers have known this was coming most of them would have scaled back on the less energy efficient models already.
All this is is a bit of anti-EU silly-season hype. If you go to Curry's all the kitchen appliances are energy efficient these days. A few years ago they were not. Manufacturers often need a law to make them improve the energy efficiency of products. This is just bringing vacuum cleaners into the fold.
Same with new houses - builders would not bother to insulate to high standards if they were not forced to do so by building regulations.
Given the problems we face with dwindling North Sea gas and the pollution that can come with electricity generation, why not be HAPPY about this change?