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Nuclear
Energy
Gender
Structural
Funds- Framework Directive with Implementation Measures
Updated: July 2012
| In this Page: |
· A Process Covering 40+ Energy Using Products in the EU. Read · Ecodesign, 2012. Read · Focus on Solid Fuel Combustion. Read · Standby consumption - now also for networks. Read · A + + +, how the label develops. Read
|
· INFORSE's
Positions. Read |
| · Products Covered. Read |
| · Procedures of Directive, Recast (2008-10) Implementation. Read |
The Ecodesign process is regulated by the
Ecodesign of Energy-related Products Directive (ErP) 2009/125/EC,
that establishes a framework
for the setting of Ecodesign requirements (such as energy efficiency
requirements)
for all energy-using products and energy-related products (ErP)* in
the residential, tertiary and industrial sectors. The
Ecodesign Directive is supplemented by the energy labelling directive.
Aim: Reducing the environmental
impact of products, including the energy consumption throughout their
entire life cycle.
* Energy
related products are defined as products that use(convert) energy
carriers
in the form
of gas, oil, electricity or others (such as a boiler,
an energy using product) or that cause energy use (such as a window
where, heat losses are determining the energy use of the boiler, -
the window
is
therefore said to be energy-related)
A
Process Covering 40+ Energy Using Products in the EU
EU
is in a process of covering most energy using products on the markets
of the EU countries
with Ecodesign regulation, a regulation that sets minimum energy efficiency
requirements and other environmental requirements, based on a life-cycle
approach. Regulation
and other measures will cover at least 32 product groups as well as 2 horizontal
aspects (standby consumption and electric motors). For each product group
or horizontal measures is adopted an implementation measure, typically
an internal
market regulation. Also voluntary agreements are possible measures. Often
the process also involves mandatory energy efficiency labelling with
the Energy Labelling
Directive( 2010/30/EU).
For many products these measures can reduce consumption 25% or more. The
currect Ecodesign directive was adopted november
2009 as a revision of the 2005-Ecodesign
directive, enlarging the scope to energy related products. This could
for instance
be windows that are important for heat consumption of a house, but do
not directly consume
fuel or other delivered energy.
The
process for each product group is:
• The European Commission launches a preparatory study made by experts,
with stakeholder (industry, NGOs) consultation, typically 1-2 years.
• The Commission, using the outcomes of the study, issues a Working Document
suggesting policy options.
• One month later, discussion of the document in the “ Consultation
Forum” composed of stakeholders including INFORSE-Europe and other NGOs
and industry groups.
• After a social and economic impact assessment, a proposal for EU regulation
is made by the EU Commission, typically 3 months after the Consultation Forum.
This final draft measure is submitted for vote to the Regulatory Committee composed
of Member States officials. Amendments can be discussed and a qualified majority
has to be reached for the vote.
• Adoption of EU Commission in cooperation with EU countries (for energy
efficiency requirements that are under the Ecodesign directive the countries
have to approve regulation with qualified majority while for labelling the countries
only have a right to veto a proposal with qualified majority. This difference
is because only the labeling directive follows the Lisbon Treaty as this directive
was adopted after December 2009)
• "Scrutiny" by EU Parliament (and with Lisbon also by EU countries),
where a majority of EU parliamentarians (or EU countries) can stop a measure,
2 months
• Official entry into force of regulation(s)
• Typically 1 year after regulation enters into force, companies must only
put on the EU market products that follow the regulation and has the necessary
labels. Only such products can carry the "CE" label.
• Typically 2-3 years later stronger energy efficiency requirements are
introduced as a second step
• Typically 4-5 years after a regulation enters into force it is reviewed,
and a revision might take place (this has not happened yet since the regulation
is new).
Products covered by regulations that are already in force are: standby and
off -mode losses, simple set-top boxes, non directional household lamps, tertiary
sector lighting products, external power supplies, electric motors, circulators,
TVs, domestic refrigerators and freezers, household washing machines, household
dishwashers, air conditioners and fans.
You can find all the regulation and its amendments here.
Read the product types below
Ecodesign 2012
July 2012: The development of Ecodesign measures continues, and more
product groups are being covered:
- Energy-efficiency requirements for domestic air-conditioners, non-residential
fans, dishwashers, washing machines and water pumps have been implemented in
the last years.
- Energy efficiency requirements and labelling for domestic tumble driers are
coming soon,
- Energy efficiency requirements for directional lamps were agreed in July 2012
- Energy efficiency requirements and
labels for boilers and water heaters are on their way with decisions expected
before the end of 2012. Boilers
and water
heaters have the highest energy reduction potentials of all product groups.
- The first standards to be developed through the alternative voluntary agreement
route, covering complex set-top boxes and imaging equipment, should also be
finalised next year.
- In discussions are requirements for computers, networked
standby modes, domestic ventilation, vacuum cleaners and
- There have also been consultations on commercial and professional
refrigeration, coffee machines, ovens and hobs and electrical transformers,
and a Consultation
Forum on solid fuel combustion has just taken place the 12th of July (for
boilers) with another (for stoves) planned for September 2012.
Focus on Solid Fuel
Combustion
The regulation of stoves and other small biomass installations is important
as they can be important contributors to replace fossil fuels with
renewable biomass,
but they can also be local pollution problems. With new technology
and good regulation, biomass can be used more efficiently, thus replacing
more fossil fuel, and making less pollution. In the EU Ecodesign
process regulation of small solid fuel installations is under preparation
since
2009. Finally, the EC launched a working
document on boilers, and the 12th of
July 2012 it has been a Consultation Forum in which INFORSE-Europe has
participated. An addtional working
documents is now released on stoves/ovens with a consultation forum
planned for September. Together the regulations
will cover boilers, ovens, stoves for cooking, fireplaces (as far
as fireplaces
are
sold as products)
that
use wood
or coal. Straw and other solid
biomass
is not included in the current proposals.
See preparatory study on: www.ecosolidfuel.org.
INFORSE-Europe also worked on proposals for requirements
together with other NGOs. Our ideas reflecting on the first
parts of the preparatory study, specifically on air pollution,
are summarised here
(pdf file).
Comments are welcome.
Standby - now also for networks
Since
January 2010, most products put on the market in EU satisfy
the new standby criteria:
No more consumption than 1 Watt for
stand-by
and off-mode, or 2 Watts if there is a display. From the 7th of January
2013 the requirements will be 0.5 Watt for
stand-by
and off-mode, or 1 Watt if there is a display.
The introduction
of this regulation has been welcomed by all, and it seems that
no complaints
have been made, but the regulation is not covering the increasing number
of products that are connected to a data network (internet, local networks,
TV networks).
Now the process has started to limit the stand-by consumption of products connected to networks that can be activated via network (cable or wireless), with requirements that are in a final stage of approval (the draft of the regulation is going to be voted at the end of 2012). The standby criteria planned for these products are: from January 2014 no more than 4 Watts in products with low network availability, and 8 Watts in products with high network availability; and from 2016 no more than 2 and 8 respectively.
A
+ + + and the Development of Labelling
A compromise
was reached late in 2009 for EU labelling for energy efficiency,
after a year of negotiations and a veto against a label scheme by the EU
Parliament. The compromise is that the A-G scale will be retained;
but when a majority of products are in the upper class(es), there will
be not recalling as promoted by NGOs and the EU Parliament. Instead,
the new classes of A+, A++ and even A+++ will be added. The new A+++ labels
are now introduced for some products. The system will be evaluated in 2014,
and a new discussion on better labels can start.
INFORSE-Europe has a permanent seat in the Consultation Forum together with WWF, Greenpeace, CAN-Europe, EEB, ECOS and other NGOs. We cooperate on our inputs to the process as well as more generally in the Cool Products Campaign and collect our positions etc. on our common website Ecodesign of Products: Views of Environmental NGOs on the EuP Policy. We develop common position to better argue for high energy efficiency requirements and good consumer information via labels etc.
INFORSE & NGOs positions:
02.2012
- Professional Refrigerating and Freezing Equipment
Joint position from environmental NGOs 
(pdf
file 50 Kb)
12.2011 - Coffee Machines
Joint position from environmental NGOs (pdf
file 159 Kb)
09.2011 -
Network Standby Modes
ECOS position paper (pdf
file 50 Kb)
05.09.2011 -
Advanced Proposal for Vacuum Cleaners
ECOS advanced proposal (pdf
file 26 Kb)
07.2011 -
Advanced Proposal for Water Pumps
ECOS advanced proposal – click
here
07.2011 -
Directional Lamps and Luminaries
Joint position from environmental NGOs (pdf
file 162 Kb)
05.2011 -
Final Drafts for Boilers
Joint position from environmental NGOs on the EC Working Documents on
Ecodesign and Energy Labelling for boilers of March 2011 (pdf
file 182 Kb)
24.09.2010 - Tertiary lighting: Luminaries
Joint position paper
from ECOS and ECEEE (pdf
file 77 Kb)
09.2010 - Water Heaters
Joint position paper from environmental NGOs (pdf
file 183 Kb)
22.06.2010 -
Household Tumble Driers
Joint Position from Environmental NGOs on the EC
Working Document on the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling of Household
Tumble Driers
(pdf file 181 kB)
22.06.2010 -
Vacuum Cleaners
Joint
Position from Environmental NGOs - (pdf
file 170 kB)
01.04.2010 - Display Cabinets and Vending Machines
Joint Opinion
from Environmental NGOs on the approach for setting Ecodesign
rules for display cabinets and vending machines click
here.
04.03.2010 - Label for TVs
Joint Position from Environmental NGOs on the revised
version of the proposed Energy Label for TVs.
Comments (pdf file 181 kB)
03.02. 2010 - Fans
Joint
Position from Environmental NGOs on Fans
(pdf file 51 kB)
29.01.2010 -
Boilers
Joint position from Environmental NGOs on the final version of the methodology
for the Ecodesign measures on Boilers
Second technical contribution from
ECOS and INFORSE on the methodology (pdf
file 97 kB)
First technical contribution from ECOS and INFORSE on the methodology (pdf
file 101 kB)
05.10.2009 - Imaging
Equipments
Joint
position by ECOS, INFORSE-Europe, FoE-Europe, CAN-Europe, EEB, WWF-European
Policy Office on the proposed Voluntary Initiative Agreements on Imaging
Equipment and Complex Set Top Boxes (pdf
file 199 kB)
15.10.2009 - Computers and Displays
Joint
position by ECOS, INFORSE-Europe, FoE-Europe, CAN-Europe, EEB,
WWF-European Policy Office