Overview of the EU Ecodesign policy in 2010
Now that a new European Commission is going to take office, some questions arise on the future of the EU Ecodesign policy. This policy is currently managed by three DGs of the Commission: DG TREN (lead), DG Enterprise and DG Environment. Under the new Commission, it could be shared between DG Energy, DG Industry, the new DG Climate Action and/or DG Environment (for non-energy aspects). We still don't know how the work will be distributed and structured among units.
The following key developments are expected in 2010:
- vote and adoption of the ecodesign (and energy labelling) rules for boilers, water heaters and air-conditioners
- vote and adoption of measures on several electronics (computers, monitors, imaging equipment, DVD players, game consoles...)
- discussion and vote on directional lighting and luminaires
- extension of the policy to "energy-related products" (windows, insulation...) and revision of the methodology accordingly
ECOS and the Coolproducts campaign members will continue monitoring this policy and advocating for even more ambitious measures. The 10 already adopted regulations under the Ecodesign directive are expected to save 340 TWh of electricity every year by 2020, which is even not enough to compensate for the natural growth of the stocks. Therefore more ambition is required in order to achieve absolute energy (and CO2) savings.
Here is an overview of the calendar of entry into force of the main provisions of these 10 existing measures (+ a pending measure on washing machines):
- 7 January 2010
standby consumption on a broad range of products is limited to 1 W (2 W with a status display)
- 24 February 2010
simple set top boxes (without hard disk or 2nd tuner) consuming more than 5 W are banned
- 7 April 2010
some of the least efficient fluorescent lamps for offices and high discharge lamps for street lighting are banned
- 26 April 2010
external power supplies consuming more than 0.5 W in no-load or insufficiently energy efficient in load-mode are banned
- 1 July 2010
fridges & freezers of energy class below A are banned (except absorption technology)
- 1 July 2010
washing machines of energy class below A are banned (tbc)
- 20 August 2010
televisions less energy efficient than the 2007 average are banned
- 1 Sept. 2010
clear incandescent lamps of 75 W are banned
- 26 April 2011
reinforced rules for external power supplies
- 16 June 2011
motors less efficient than the IE2 level are banned
- 1 Sept. 2011
clear incandescent lamps of 60 W are banned
- 24 February 2012
simple set top boxes with hard disk and/or 2nd tuner consuming more than 12 W are banned
- 1 April 2012
televisions less energy efficient than the 2007 average minus 20% are banned
- 7 April 2012
more inefficient fluorescent lamps for offices and high discharge lamps for street lighting are banned
- 1 July 2012
only fridges & freezers on the top of the energy class A and better are left on the market (except absorption)
- 1 Sept. 2012
clear incandescent lamps of 25 and 40 W are banned
- 1 January 2013
circulators less efficient than the current average are banned
- 7 January 2013
standby consumption of a braod range of products is limited to 0.5 W (1 W with a status display)
- 1 July 2013
washing machines below energy class A+ are banned (tbc)
- 1 July 2014
fridges & freezers below energy class A+ are banned (except absorption)
- 1 January 2015
large motors less efficient than the IE3 level are banned unless they are provided with a variable speed drive
- 7 April 2015
more high discharge lamps for street lighting are banned
- 1 August 2015
more inefficient circulators are banned
- 1 January 2017
small motors less efficient than the IE3 level are banned unless they are provided with a variable speed drive
- 7 April 2017
magnetic ballasts for fluorescent lamps and more high discharge lamps for street lighting are banned
The first measure planned for revision is the one on televisions (2012), then come external power supplies (2013), set top boxes (2014), tertiary and domestic lighting (2014), fridges (2014), standby (2015), motors (2016) and circulators (2017).