New stand-by power consumption limits published

In our recent Law Now we discussed the proposals put forward by the European Commission in 2008 to introduce the first implementing measure of the Eco-design Directive (Directive 2005/32/EC) which will regulate standby in electrical and electronic household and office equipment. The proposals have now been finalised and on 17 December 2008 the European Commission (EC) adopted the new Eco-Design Regulation to reduce energy consumption of all household and office products. The adopted requirements will no doubt have an impact on those involved in the manufacture, production and distribution of such equipment as the new Regulation lays down energy efficiency requirements which are expected to cut the standby electricity consumption by 73% by 2020. The Eco-Design Directive forms part of the wider European policy vision to apply energy efficiency and life-costing considerations at the design stage of products and services.

Need for change

In its preparatory study, the European Commission revealed that the annual electricity consumption related to standby mode and off-mode losses within the Community was estimated in 2005 at 47 TWh per annum, corresponding to 19 Mt CO2 emissions. The Commission also estimated that if measures are not taken, consumption could increase to 49 TWh in 2020.

Which products are affected?

The Regulation sets standards that fix maximum power consumption for standby mode across a range of products. These include large household goods, computer equipment and consumer electronics.

Electrical and electronic household and office equipment

Electrical and electronic household and office equipment is defined for the purposes of this Regulation as equipment that:

• is commercially available as a single functional unit and is intended for the end user;
• falls under the list of energy-using products of Annex I of this Regulation (see below for more information);
• is dependent on energy input from the mains power source in order to work as intended; and
• is designed for use with a nominal voltage rating of 250 V or below.

Electrical and electronic household and office equipment that is marketed for non-household or non-office use also falls under the above definition.

Annex I

Annex I includes a list of energy using products which fall under this Regulation.

Household appliances include such products as washing machines, clothes dryers, dish washing machines, electric ovens, microwaves and so on.

Information technology equipment includes products intended for primary use in domestic environment such as personal computers and laptops.

Consumer equipment covers television sets, radios, video cameras, hi-fi recorders, musical instruments and other equipment for the purpose of recording and reproducing sound or images, including signals or other technologies for the distribution of sound and image other than by telecommunications.

Toys, leisure and sports equipment include electric trains, car racing sets, sports equipment with electric or electronic components and other toys, leisure and sport equipment.

Enforcement

Importantly, because this is a Regulation, and not a Directive, as soon as it is passed into law (on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Journal which we understand is due to happen in the 1st Quarter 2009) it will have effect across the EU. It does not have to await implementing legislation in the various Member States.

Eco design requirements

The new ecodesign requirements apply to new products which are sold in the EU for the first time, including such equipment manufactured outside the EU and imported into the EU. The requirements relating to standby and off mode electric power consumption are set out in Annex II of the Regulation. As of January 2010 (one year after the coming into force of this Regulation) the following minimum ecodesign standards for electrical and electronic household equipment will have to be met:

• Power consumption in “off mode” condition shall not exceed 1 Watt.
• Power consumption in “standby mode” shall be:
  • Watt in equipment in any condition providing only a reactivation function, or providing only a reactivation function and a mere indication of enabled reactivation function;
  • 2 Watts in equipment in any condition providing only information or status display, or providing only a combination of reactivation function and information or status display.

These levels will be lowered even further in 2013:

• Power consumption in any “off mode” condition shall not exceed 0.5 Watts.
• Power consumption in “standby mode” shall be:
  • 0.5 Watt in equipment in any condition providing only a reactivation function, or providing only a reactivation function and a mere indication of enabled reactivation function;
  • 1 Watt in equipment in any condition providing only information or status display, or providing only a combination of reactivation function and information or status display.

Further changes to come

Several other measures will follow later, which will address individual product groups. The second implementing measure will set new eco-design standards for simple set top-boxes. The third will deal with tertiary lighting (commercial and street lighting), and the fourth implementing measure is due to set new eco-design standards for battery chargers and external power supplies.

The new standards will no doubt subject manufacturers of the said equipment to increased costs. Nonetheless, it is expected that new standards will lead to a reduction of 35TWh annually, thus, considerably reducing energy bills of both consumers and businesses.