As of today, first of September 2014, by European Law, vaccuum cleaners must be more efficient re energy consumption.
Maximum allowed is 1.600 Watt, and in three years time, as of 2017 this will be even lower, 900 Watt.
Shops are allowed to sell out present stock of cleaners with higher voltage, but any newly acquired stock must meet this European requirement.
The Dutch consumer organisation ´Consumentenbond´ executed an efficiency/efficacy test with vacuum cleaners in July of this year and according to a spokesperson the common belief that cleaners with higher wattage perform better, is a myth.Their test showed the best results with a vacuum cleaner of only 1.200 Watt.
It seems the general public in Holland, nor shop salespersons, are very aware of the new ruling, as opposed to the UK where public outrage over the new European rule has been very vocal, with headlines as ´That Sucks´ appearing in national newspapers.