And Dyson holds others to the same account. Most of the energy used by a vacuum cleaner, for example, is consumed when it’s in use. So, in 2012 Dyson campaigned to put a cap on the motor wattage to force manufacturers to invest in high efficiency technology. Instead, the EU introduced a misleading energy label for vacuum cleaners which exaggerated the energy efficiency of bagged vacuum cleaners, testing them empty and with no dust, which does not reflect real-world use. This is because vacuums don’t stay empty. Bagged vacuums lose suction as they fill with dust, so performance drops. Some machines even compensate by increasing power during use. Dyson challenged this through the EU Appeal Court and eventually won, making the energy usage of vacuum cleaners more tangible for owners and helping them make more environmentally conscious decisions.
While these mechanical improvements have been instrumental in energy saving over the years, the addition of intelligent sensing not only makes Dyson machines easier to use, but also better at saving energy automatically.