We’ve mentioned many times before the crucial importance of regulating the energy efficiency of the boilers we use to heat our homes. Finally, after years of debates and delays, the European Union's Ecodesign Directive and energy labelling measures on boilers seem to be back on track. Last month the European Commission made its final proposals on this issue, and hopefully there is a chance of reaching a final decision before the end of 2011.
Boilers are the most significant product category when it comes to energy consumption and CO2 emissions at EU level. Good energy efficiency and ecological requirements could help the EU save, by 2020, the equivalent of the domestic consumption of energy of 20 million citizens and the CO2 emissions equivalent of 40 millions cars. In addition such measures would represent billions of Euros in savings for citizens on their energy bills.
Environmental groups involved in the Coolproducts campaign - ECOS, EEB, Friends of the Earth Europe, and INFORSE Europe - as well as partner organisations CAN Europe and WWF have welcomed the publication of these proposals and suggested in a "position paper" some simple and practical improvements to reinforce the ambition and effectiveness of the measures.
In addition, campaigners insist on the crucial need to move forward and come with a final decision as soon as possible, on boilers as well as on water heaters (a crucial and related product category that is also in the process of being regulated). Further delays would represent unacceptable additional waste of energy and a failure to respond to the challenges highlighted by the recent EU Energy Efficiency Plan.
(by Stephane Arditi, EEB)