EU Vacuum Cleaner Ban

[aquacycle]

Well said Spiraclean! I agree, vacuums are the least of our problems right now.

But to the point...
I believe the US also has a regulation on the vacuum power, but in amps?
The vacuum wattage cap has been the best thing to happen to the UK vacuum market in years. Far too many manufacturers were just upping their motor wattage as a way to get around doing any real R&D, using inefficient designs and unreliable motors. The issue wasn't just energy consumption, but also linked to how many throwaway vacuums were being bought and ended up in a landfil within just a few years.
The new regulations forced some of our lazier manufacturers to actually put some thought into their designs and find new ways to meet a minimum performance criteria but with less power. Remember, we all managed perfectly well with our 500w Hoover's and Electrolux's for years. High wattage only started to become a popular selling point in the mid-late 90's.

The only downside has been that the ratings labels and testing is a complete farce.

And if history is anything to go by, to retain access to the single market, we will need to accept EU law and the free movement of people, so the vacuum regulations will likely not go anywhere.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

My Henry is 1200 watt but has better suction than a lot of the more expensive cleaners out there. I always thought the higher the wattage the better the air suction but that obviously isn't the case.

 

[aquacycle]

I've got one of the current 620w Henry's - it's fantastic. On high power it could suck the paper clean off the walls.

 

[vacerator]

Uh, ok

Washman, I figured you for a Sanitorium fan. Mars is a good place for him to stay, next to Butler.
Was western Pa. in some sort of huge economic boom from 2004 through 2009 in the county south of you my relatives forgot to mention to me?
So, as for Mr. magic underwear with his two Cadillacs in his Boston garage, said let Detroit go bankrupt, as his architect was drawing up blueprints for their LaJolla Ca. retirement abode, he didn't even carry San Diego county.
As poorly as when George jr. told us on CBS radio in 2004, if you lose your jobs, go to your churhces for help, as if churches receive contributions from unemployed folks.
The next news story was about a major midwest retail chain severing hundreds of hourly and salary dept. leads and managers.
Retail, not manufacturing jobs, which unlike in the 80's recession were stable jobs.
Hindsight is 20/20, the other story. Carry on.

 

[vacerator]

Come to think of past wattage and amperage draw,

After WW2, an Elux XXX was rated at 500 watts. Back in the 1960's, most vacuums were rated at about 6 or 7 amps.
I suppose with dense Saxony 25 ounce carpet, you need 12 amps?
Then, motors lost a fan for canister's in the 80's. A twin fan that drew 9 amps cleaned as well as a single fan motor that draws 12 amps.
Todays flooring fashions are less carpet, and more tile, slate, marble, granite, or wood, with area rugs here and there.
Miele claims that a vacuum which has automatic power monitoring using pressure transducers saves almost 50% electricity over it's life as one without.
It makes little difference to the individual consumer in their monthly bill, but multiplied by millions of homes, the conservation of energy is significant.
Scientists have done the math. Engineers have designed the solutions.
EU standards aside, we have populated the planet to nearly 8 billion.
Call a friggin tree hugger, lefty Lib, or whatever, I don't care.