Well respected environmental news outlet ENDS Europe reports on expectations for next year''s work on ecodesign. Thanks to ENDS for permission to re-publish this content.
Leap in ecodesign rules predicted for 2012
20th December 2011
Next year could be a "vintage year" for the EU's ecodesign regime, according to Stephane Arditi, a policy officer at green group EEB. This would be a step up from 2011, which has seen standards agreed for only two product groups.
Progress has been hampered by the EU executive's limited resources and the sensitivity and complexity of some of the issues, but several new standards are expected in 2012.
The two implementing measures agreed under the ecodesign directive this year cover domestic air-conditioners and water pumps, with the latter approved last Friday. The tally is only one less than last year, but far behind the nine measures agreed in 2009.
The agenda for 2012 includes the adoption of the long-awaited measures for boilers and water heaters, which could save up to 400 terawatt hours of energy across the EU in 2020, according to the Coolproducts NGO campaign of which EEB is part.
New standards are also likely to be agreed for computers, networked standby modes,domestic ventilation, tumble driers, vacuum cleaners and directional lamps.
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. Meetings on these have been held recently; one of the key issues for both is the development of independent monitoring and reporting systems.
If all the measures on the table are approved next year they could reduce energy consumption in Europe by up to 650TWh in 2020, Mr Arditi told ENDS.
Also due next year is the final version of a consultancy report evaluating the effectivenessof the ecodesign directive, a new work programme listing product groups to be assessed between 2012 and 2014, an updated product assessment methodology, and the first revision of an ecodesign measure, covering televisions.
There will also be consultations on commercial and professional refrigeration, coffee machines, game consoles, ovens and hobs, and electrical transformers.
Follow Up:
DG Enterprise's ecodesign webpage and Coolproducts website