In order to reduce the energy consumption of appliances and products, eco-design requirements have been introduced, setting standards for minimum energy efficiency.
In order to reduce Europe’s energy consumption and climate impacts, the EU can stipulate requirements on the energy efficiency of energy-related products. If such efficiency requirements are common for all EU countries, manufacturers’ costs are reduced and the savings for consumers are maximised. The legislative basis for energy-efficiency requirements for products and appliances is EU Directive 2009/125/EC on “establishing a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-using products(recast)”, the Eco-Design Directive.
In Danish legislation the directive is implemented by Act no. 308 of 30 April 2008 on environmentally friendly design of energy-using products
cf.consolidating Act no. 1068 of 15 September 2010(in Danish).
Eco-design requirements for eight categories of appliances
The Eco-Design Directive is a framework directive under which regulations are issued setting maximum limits(minimum standards) for the energy consumption of specific products. So far eight regulations have been issued for the following categories:
- Standby consumption (applicable for a large number of products)
- Simple digital receiver boxes
- Light sources for residential lighting
- Light sources for offices and street lighting
- External power supplies
- Television
- Household refrigerating appliances
- Electric motors 0.75 – 175 kW
- Household dishwashers
- Circulatores
- Household washing machines Fans driven by motors
- Aircondition
The minimum standards remove the least energy-efficient appliances and products from the market.
Regulations for more products are underway
More regulations are underway, including for tumble dryers, PCs, printers, computer screens, boilers and water heaters, vacuum cleaners, network standby as well as smaller ventilation equipment and kitchen hoods.