Some of the most energy-guzzling and polluting heating and ventilation products will no longer be allowed to enter the EU market. But EU legislators failed to add long-needed energy labels to electric radiators and outdoor heaters, said Coolproducts campaigners.
From January 2018, new EU Ecodesign rules will push several wasteful and polluting heating products off the market. At the same time, some of these products will also display an A++ to G energy label, helping consumers choose the most energy-efficient models and cut household bills.
As a result, the European Commission expects massive energy savings and a significant drop in pollutant emissions across Europe.
Coolproducts is a campaign led by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and ECOS working to ensure that energy efficiency legislation works for European citizens and governments.
Local space heaters
With the new Ecodesign rules, local space heaters will have to reach a minimum space heating efficiency range (31% to 74%), depending on the type of heaters, to enter the EU market. Limits on emissions of nitrogen oxide (Nox) are also foreseen.
The rules will notably affect electric radiators, gas stoves, fan heaters and small kerosene heaters.
The combination of both Ecodesign and Energy Labelling requirements are expected to bring about the following savings by 2020:
- 6.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
- 600 tonnes of pollutant emissions (NOx) per year, which is equal to taking out 250,000 diesel cars off the road.
However, Coolproducts campaigners regret some notable exemptions. Chloé Fayole of ECOS said:
“Electric radiators have been shamefully exempted from the energy labelling rules, despite the fact that they are the least efficient domestic heating products. We also regret the exemption of outdoor heaters, which are mushrooming on terraces across Europe.
“Some countries and energy providers clearly have a vested interest in hiding the energy efficiency levels of these products, but what about the right of consumers to know what they are buying?
Air based heating and cooling systems
Efficiency requirements and pollution limits will also enter into force for air-based heating and cooling products, high temperature process chillers and fan coil units, which are mostly found in non-residential buildings.
These products consumed 59 Million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in the EU in 2010, as much as the final energy consumption of Poland.
Savings include:
- 9 million tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions per year by 2020.
- 2,200 tonnes per year by 2030. This is as much as taking out one million diesel cars off the road.
Other products that will benefit from stronger energy efficiency requirements include ventilation products and kitchen hobs and hoods.
In 2018, after many delays, policy makers will also begin to reintroduce the original A-G energy labels for a number of domestic appliances, removing the confusing plusses (A+, A++, A+++).
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