European Ecodesign Directive

The Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC is to establish a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for eco-design of energy-related products (Energy- related Products, ErP). It replaces Directive 2005/32/EC of 6 July 2005, which was also Energy - using Products (EuP) Directive called.

Directive 2005/32/EC, which has improved energy efficiency and overall environmental performance of electrical appliances goal was adopted on 6 July 2005 and had to be implemented by the governments of the EU into national law by 11 August 2007. This happened in Austria with the Ecodesign Regulation 2007, and in Germany with the Energy-using Products Act. The validity of Directive 2005/32/EC expired on 19 November 2009.

On 20 November 2009 the successor Directive 2009/125/EC has been put in place which had to be implemented by November 20, 2010. In Germany, the implementation did not happen until the 25th November 2011. Most important change in the new compared to the original guideline is that the scope of energy- has been extended to energy-related products. It now can also passive products that can have an impact on the energy efficiency but are regulated. An example of this are insulation materials.

• 4.1 Procedure by means of implementing measures
• 4.2 Requirements for component manufacturers
• 4.3 conformity
• 4.4 Criticism / problems in the implementation

• 5.1 Lot 3: PCs and monitors
• 5.2 Lot 6: Standby losses - Regulation (EC ) No 1275/2008
• 5.3 Lot 7: Battery chargers and external power supplies
• 5.4 Lot: set-top boxes with simple functions - Regulation (EC ) No 107/2009?

Objective

The Directive sets the so-called Integrated Product Policy in the European Union ( IPP) to, that is, they cover the entire life cycle of an electrical appliance from production to disposal.

As the " EuP " All products are defined which electricity fossil or renewable sources of energy must be supplied for the intended use. Also such products are included, which can be installed by the end user to another EuP and in turn energy need. More detailed specifications are still pending; it is to be expected that this will, for example, commercially available computer parts are recognized.

Affected are therefore of the Directive, with the exception of transport almost all electricity -consuming products, including refrigerators, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, televisions, street lighting or personal computer, provided of which at least 200,000 units per year in the European Union area are put into circulation.

The objective is to save energy and other resources in the production, operation and disposal of the affected products, thus forcing eco-design ( eco-design), adds that the approximation of the laws and the removal of technical barriers to trade.

Transposition into national law

The Ecodesign Directive is an EU Directive on the basis of Article 95 EC Treaty. Thus, a uniform implementation in national law is binding.

The implementation of the 2005/32/EC into national law had to take place until 11 August 2007. While the implementation in Austria just happened on time, the policy in Germany was implemented only after a considerable delay. The successor Directive 2009/125/EC had to be implemented by November 20, 2010.

Austria

In Austria, the reaction was carried out with the Ecodesign Regulation 2007, which came into force on 10 August 2007.

Germany

On 8 August 2007, the Directive in Germany with the Energy-using Products Act (EBPG ) was transposed into national law.

According to the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology ( BMWi) is to be reduced particularly the standby power consumption of devices.

The German draft law was criticized by the trade associations in various points; in particular came enforceability against foreign suppliers and not by value limited right for the taking of samples and patterns by the executive authority of appeal. In the final version of the Act, the taking of samples and patterns has been completely deleted.

On 6 March 2008 the law passed under the name " (Energy -using Products Act - EBPG ) Law on ecodesign requirements for energy -using products " was published in the Federal Gazette and entered into force on 7 March 2008.

Products Affected

From the scope of the Directive except vehicles are all energy-related products and product groups recorded

In so-called implementing measures product- specific eco-design requirements for a product of a group are set. It may be either form of requirements for the qualitative and quantitative description of significant environmental aspects as well as to quantify requirements to selected environmental issues such as limitations in energy and resource consumption and pollutant concentrations in the device. These implementing measures are automatically valid in all EU Member States.

In the first phase, the EU Commission for 13 product groups and a cross-cutting issue (standby losses) preparatory studies had given at various European research institutes in order. These are the EU Commission as a basis for the adoption of implementing measures. Meanwhile, more preparatory studies have been tendered and awarded.

The preparation of studies deal with the following products:

• Lot 1: Boilers and combi boiler ( complete draft implementing measure for 2nd half of 2011 planned)
• Lot 2: Water Heater ( completed draft implementing measure for 2nd half of 2011 planned)
• Lot 3: PCs and monitors (completed, found no need for action, for the time being no further activity )
• Lot 4: printers, copiers and multifunction devices (completed, found no need for action, for the time being no further activity )
• Lot 5: TV ( complete, implementing measure since June 22, 2009 in force)
• Lot 6: Standby losses ( complete, implementing measure since April 6, 2009 in force)
• ( Complete, implementing measure since 7 January 2009 ) Battery chargers and external power supplies: Lot 7
• Lot 8: Office lighting ( complete, implementing measure since March 18, 2009 in force)
• Lot 9: (completed, final report on the website, see link ) Street lighting
• Lot 10: Indoor Climate Systems (completed, implementing measure in the works)
• Lot 11: Electric motors ( 1-150 KW), circulating pumps and fans ( completed three separate implementing measures two since June 22, 2009 in force)
• Lot 12: Commercial refrigerators and freezers
• Lot 13: Private refrigerators and freezers ( complete, implementing measure since July 22, 2009 in force)
• Lot 14: Private dishwashers and washing machines (completed, two separate implementing measures since November 10, 2010 in force)
• Lot 15: Small heaters for solid fuel
• Lot 16: tumble dryer ( complete draft implementing measure expected by the end of 2011)
• Lot 17: Vacuum Cleaner (completed)
• Lot 18: set-top boxes with a complex function (completed, found no need for action, for the time being no further activity )
• Lot 19: Domestic lighting ( complete, implementing measure for portion in place, next steps planned for 2011 )
• Lot 20: Single room heaters
• Lot 21: Warm air central heating (without CHP - Central heating systems )
• Lot 22: Domestic and commercial ovens for food, including microwave ovens
• Lot 23: Domestic and commercial ovens and barbecues
• Lot 24: commercial dishwashers, washers and dryers
• Lot 25: non-commercial coffee machines
• Lot 26: Consumption in the networked standby mode ( networked stand-by )
• Lot 27: household emergency power supply (domestic UPS )
• Lot 28: Pumps for dirty water and fluids with high solids content
• Lot 29: Pumps for private and public swimming pools, ponds, fountains, aquariums and pumps for clean water
• Lot 30: Products in motor systems (all products which are not covered by 640/2009 )
• Lot 31: Products in motor systems which are not covered by Lot 30.

Furthermore, there are some studies that are not conducted in this sequential numbering:

• Lot No designation: Simple set-top boxes
• Lot E1: Refrigerators and Freezers
• Lot E2: Transformers
• Lot E3: Audio and Video Equipment
• Lot E4: Industrial and laboratory furnaces and burners
• Lot E5: Machine Tools
• Lot E6: Air conditioning and ventilation equipment

To Lot 19 - The EU Commission has adopted a Regulation which will displace about the definition of minimum efficiency gradually the classic light bulb from the market. Details can be found in the article to the incandescent lamp.

The EU Commission has now established a consortium consisting of Energy - Environment - Local Development Ltd ( EPTA ), National Technical University of Athens and PE Europe GmbH, commissioned to draw up a work plan within the next three years, what further 25 product groups should be prioritized to define measures for implementing this. The consortium, made ​​based on the PRODCOM list, first in early August 2007, a classification of potentially affected products. This list was referred to by the industry associations as inappropriate. EPTA continues to maintain this list and now has limited the selection of over 600 products to 58 and these preliminary list of the EU Commission submitted (November 2007 ). In its current incarnation are, inter alia, electronic components no longer included, which was a major point of criticism on the first version.

Implementation

Procedure by means of implementing measures

The Ecodesign Directive is a framework directive, which itself does not define detailed requirements for specific products. Since such diverse products such as heaters and televisions can not be populated with identical specifications to be drawn up where necessary product-specific implementing measures (Implementing measures ). These implementing measures to define for a group of products, which take into account the manufacturer during the development of the product and must be documented and may also include efficiency limits that must not be exceeded.

For the definition of an implementing measure, a study of the relevant Product in order is given. As part of such a study, the current status of the market and user behavior is first determined. The products are divided into groups with similar characteristics, such as TV CRT 14 "to 26" flat panel display or TV with 40 "to 65 ". For these groups, representative devices are tested for energy consumption and use of materials. The thus obtained results are used to define the so-called " base case " of the average instrument for a class. Based on the Base Cases then begins the formulation of goals for the improvement of products and possibly establishing minimum requirements.

The completed survey of EU Commission is then used to adopt an implementing measure.

In general, an implementing measure will oblige the manufacturer to document what materials are consumed in what quantity and how much energy to manufacture the product, how much energy and materials consumed during the product its typical life and how much recycling. In addition, the manufacturer shall document the measures it has taken to minimize the consumption of resources. If efficiency limits are defined in an implementing measure, the manufacturer is not allowed to bring products to the market that do not comply with these limits.

The documentation of resource consumption is referred to as Life Cycle Assessment ( LCA) or LCA.

Requirements for component manufacturers

The Article 11 of the EuP Directive provides that of components and component manufacturers may be required in the implementing measures to provide data on material and energy consumption of their parts.

Conformity

The declaration of conformity with the implementing measures adopted for the particular product is to be as self-declaration by the manufacturer and is part of the requirements for the affixing of the CE marking.

Criticism / problems in the implementation

Is not yet clear how compliance with the implementing measures should be reviewed, especially in the case of non-EU producers. Except in cases of a direct indicator of non- compliance with the Directive, it would be difficult for the mass of the affected products to review them adequately.

Results of the individual lots

Lot 3: PCs and monitors

The study concludes that there is no scientifically sound measurement method to set the energy and material consumption of a computer in relation to his performance as the needs of different applications can lead to very different results. Therefore, no direct measures for reducing the consumption of resources in relation to performance are suggested.

It is recommended to define a minimum value for the energy efficiency of the power supplies and this over the entire relevant load range including the resting state. Especially in the lower load range, poor efficiency values ​​have been found in many power supplies in the study. It is also recommended for standby, network standby and quasi -off to define maximum values.

When the monitors was found that CRT monitors have almost disappeared from the market and therefore require no further consideration more. In the flat displays LCDs are used almost exclusively. Since future substantial reductions in energy consumption and mercury use LED technology to be possible, it is recommended to support this development. Also for the monitors stricter maximum values ​​for standby and quasi -off is recommended.

Lot 6: Standby losses - Regulation (EC ) No 1275/2008

For Lot 6 an implementing measure on 17 December 2008 is decided and was released on 18 December 2008.

On 17 December 2008, the European Commission has issued a mandate to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI to develop the necessary standards for the measurement of standby losses.

As of January 7, 2010 allowed devices that are turned off or in a passive standby mode ( only possible reactivation, no status indicator except such as LEDs for display of readiness ), consume a maximum of 1 W. In standby with status display (eg, clock or timer) are maximum 2 W provided. These values ​​are reduced from 7 January 2013, 0.5 or 1 W.

Network Standby ( Wake on LAN), etc. Vorwärmphasen have not recorded with since no general limits can be defined here. If compatible with the purpose and use of the device, each device must have a standby or shutdown mode that can be activated by the user. If it does not contradict the use of the sense device, each device must be equipped with a power saving function that automatically enters a sleep or off state when the primary function for a certain period is not exercised in the second phase. The commitment to a physical network switch (hard off ) is the product-specific executive measures, as the usefulness of such a switch of the type of equipment and its use depends.

Affected are expressly devices (equipment ) in the home and office. Components are explicitly excluded.

This component was incorporated into the Swiss Energy Ordinance.

Lot 7: Battery chargers and external power supplies

When the external power supply was found in the preparation of the study, that there is already a clear trend toward greater energy efficiency. The majority of devices is now no longer produced with traditional transformers, but with switching controller technology. One reason for this is the increase in commodity prices, which make a transformer more expensive than the technically more complex switching controller technology, but achieves significantly better efficiencies. In addition, more and more device manufacturers require better efficiency and lower volume and weight of the suppliers of power supplies.

For further improvement is proposed that maximum values ​​for the power consumption in no-load operation (power supply connected to the network, but no device connected ) to be defined. In addition, the standardization of the plug at the external power supply is recommended, since the life of the power supply is significantly greater than that of the instrument. DIN and IEC working on various proposals; among other things to each other that only in voltage and power matching devices and power supplies must be ensured with the design of the plug, be operated together.

For Lot 7 is now before a draft implementing measure.

It defines minimum requirements for idling operation of the external power supplies, which depend on the type at 0.5 or 0.3 W. Depending on the power of the power supply, a minimum average efficiency is also given.

This does not affect power supplies for low voltage halogen, mains voltage converter, UPS devices and power supplies with an output of more than 250 W.

Chargers for batteries or external batteries for power tools were taken out of the implementing measure, as their share of energy consumption in operation is of chargers and external power supplies below 5%. These devices are to be possibly considered in a future revision of the implementing measure.

Lot: set-top boxes with simple functions - Regulation (EC ) No 107/2009?

This lot has no official number.

The implementing measure was adopted and published on February 4, 2009.

Are defined in standby and active power consumption minimum requirements. The requirements must be met from February 24, 2010. In this first phase only set-top boxes without recording function and second tuner will be considered. It should in standby no more than 1 W are consumed - when in standby a display is active no more than 2 W. In active mode maximum of 5 W are consumed - at decoding HD signals W 3 more.

In addition, all affected devices have to offer a standby mode and auto power off function, (eg, channel change ) were added after a 2- minute warning in the standby mode after no more than three -hour operation without user interaction the device.

From 24 February 2012, the values ​​for the standby 0.5 W or 1 W be halved. A replay function may then consume a maximum of 6 W in addition, - a second tuner 1 W. The allowable consumption for HD signals is reduced to 1W.

Furthermore, the manufacturer will be required to inform consumers of standby and operation usage.

Criticism

Chance of criticism is that the decisions of the Ecodesign Directive is largely behind closed doors made ​​in expert committees of representatives of the European Commission, the Member States and the industry and be legitimized insufficiently democratic.