Transcript Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)

The Energy Labelling of Household
Appliances: the EU policy framework
Conference-roundtable:
Towards the Introduction of the EU
Energy Label for Household
Appliances in Serbia
31 March 2010, Tirana, Albania
Jozsef Szlezak, Senior Expert, Sustainable
Consumption and Production, REC
The problem I (total electricity consumption)
EU 25 countries, source: EEA (2008)
www.rec.org
The problem II (energy intensity of households)
EU 25 countries, source: EEA (2008)
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The EU policy background: overarching policies
Relevant overarching policies:
 EU Energy Efficiency Action Plan (2007-12):
The overall objective is to save 20% of annual consumption of primary
energy by 2020 (compared to the energy consumption forecasts for 2020).
This objective corresponds to achieving approximately a 1.5% saving per year
up to 2020.
 EU “Climate and Energy Package” (2009), targets by 2020:
√ A reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions of at least 20%
√
√
below 1990 levels
20% of EU energy consumption to come from renewable
resources
A 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected
levels, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.
(Collectively they are known as the 20-20-20 targets.)
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Energy Labelling Framework Directive
Energy Labelling Framework Directive 1992/75/EEC
(22 September 1992) on the indication by labelling and standard
product information of the consumption of energy and other
resources by household appliances
Objectives:
 to enable the harmonization of national measures and thus
allowing consumers to choose more energy-efficient
appliances as well as to
 stimulate innovation by industry
The Energy Labelling Directive is what is known as a 'framework directive' in that
it does not of itself specify any limits or performance levels. It provides a
legislative framework into which other directives can be introduced to require
marking and performance levels for particular types of domestic appliance.
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Subsidiary directives to the Framework Directive
Household appliances (even where these are sold for nonhousehold uses) in the scope of legislation include:
- refrigerators, freezers and their combinations,
- washing machines, driers and their combinations ,
- dishwashers,
- ovens,
- water heaters and hot-water storage appliances,
- lighting sources,
- air-conditioning devices.
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General provisions of the Framework Directive I
Products put on the market must be accompanied by a fiche and
a label providing information relating to their consumption of
energy (electrical or other) or of other essential resources.
The supplier must establish technical documentation sufficient to
enable the accuracy of the information contained in the label and
the fiche to be assessed.
This documentation must include:
√ a general description of the product;
√ the results of design calculations, where necessary;
√ test reports;
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General provisions of the Framework Directive II
The supplier shall make this documentation available for
inspection purposes for a period ending five years after the last
product has been manufactured.
Suppliers must provide:
√ a free label, to be attached to the appliance by the dealer in
the appropriate position and in the appropriate language
version;
√ a product fiche, contained in all the brochures relating to the
product or, where these are not provided, in all other
literature
provided with the appliance.
√ Suppliers are responsible for the accuracy of the information
contained in the labels and fiches that they supply and are
deemed to have given their consent to the publication of
the
information.
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Example of the label (washing
machine)
The energy label also contains
information on:
- total consumption per cycle
- washing performance (from A to G)
-spin drying performance ( from A to G)
- maximum spin speed
- the total cotton capacity in kg
- water consumption per cycle in litres
- noise in the washing and spinning cycles
dB(A)
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Family of energy labels in the EU
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Impact of the EU Energy Label for Household
Appliances: a success story (example I)
Example: market share of cold appliances (1992-2002)
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Impact of the EU Energy Label for Household
Appliances: a success story (example II)
Example: market share of washing machines (1992-2002)
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Revision of the Energy Label: mixed results I
 Range A-G is outdates as most products are now in the A range or
above
 Decision postponed several times, fierce debate between industry
and consumer organisations
Two basic options discussed:
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Revision of the Energy Label: mixed results II
Final agreement: November 2009 (Swedish presidency)
 The agreement requires advertisement promoting the
price or energy efficiency of white goods to indicate the
product's energy class. In addition, all manuals, brochures and
other technical promotion will have to indicate the product's
efficiency class or energy consumption to allow consumers to
make energy-saving purchases.
 Member states were also urged to consider energy-efficient
products in public procurement, but the new directive will not
include any binding requirements.
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National measures to promote market
transformation
The labelling of appliances per se does not seem to be enough
to spontaneously shift the market and result in higher market
shares for efficient appliances.. !
Factors influencing the penetration of efficient appliances include:
-
Framework conditions (price of electricity, institutions etc.)
-
The national appliance market
-
Consumers’ attitudes
-
National policies (policy mix)
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Differences between national markets’
development in the EU (example I)
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Differences between national markets’
development in the EU (example II)
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National policies to support labelling (examples)

Retailer programmes (education, voluntary agreements etc.)

Consumer information campaigns and information tools

Endorsement label

National surveys / market analysis

Fiscal measures (taxes, subsidies)

Green Public Procurement (GPP)
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Thank you for your attention!
For further information / with related questions
please contact:
Jozsef Szlezak
[email protected]
Tel.: +36 26 504 059
http://www.rec.org/
www.rec.org