Tag: eco-design

If the EU's 2009 Eco-design Directive were to be implemented fully, the end-use energy savings by 2020 could alleviate the need for another 98 Fukushima-sized nuclear reactors, according to calculations by the European Environmental Citizens' Organisation for Standardisation (ECOS).

The European Commission has delayed tabling planned energy-efficiency standards for central heating boilers commonly used by households, after its attempts to put together a proposal repeatedly bounced back due to technical difficulties.

The EU's phase-out of traditional light bulbs begins tomorrow (1 September), but the European Commission is already under pressure to change its energy-saving policy.

The European Commission yesterday (22 July) adopted four new eco-design regulations to make industrial motors, water circulators, televisions, refrigerators and freezers more energy efficient.

The European Parliament last Friday (24 April) approved the extension of the Ecodesign Directive to cover products that have an indirect impact on energy use. Consumer groups nevertheless criticised the compromise for failing to address all relevant environmental impacts.

EU lawmakers last week agreed to broaden EU laws regulating energy-efficiency standards for electrical appliances to also include products which help reduce power consumption, such as insulation material.

EU national experts yesterday (11 March) voted in favour of new rules for stricter energy standards for industrial motors, in the first of a string of votes on energy-using products scheduled for this month. Despite the technical nature of the topic, tens of thousands of citizens have shown considerable interest by signing a petition calling for stricter standards.

A member of the European Parliament's environment committee yesterday (4 February) spoke out against his colleagues' plans to reject Commission proposals to ban traditional light bulbs by 2012, which he said had come under fire on false grounds.

The European Commission has unveiled a list of ten priority energy-using product groups for which it wants energy-efficiency standards to be established in the next three years.

Efficient light bulbs and other energy saving technologies could help cushion an expected global surge in electricity demand, the International Energy Agency said in a new report.

The EU's Eco-design Directive seeks to make the design of energy-using products such as hairdryers, computers, fridges or office equipment more environmentally friendly. In future, energy performance requirements can also be imposed on products which have an indirect impact on energy consumption during use, such as window frames and water taps.