Ecodesign 

Among its Horizon 2020 objectives, the European Union aims at reducing the energy consumption by 20%. As a contribution to those efforts, a number of product specific Regulations imposing minimum values for the energy efficiency of products through their whole life cycle are being adopted by the European Commission.

At the request of the European Commission, CEN and CENELEC develop European Standards that provide manufacturers with dedicated methods for measuring the energy performance of their products against the compulsory values set in the European Regulations.

About 25 CEN and CENELEC Technical Committees develop European Standards in the field of Ecodesign, and their number is likely to increase over time depending on the regulatory developments at the level of the European Commission. Technical Committees currently active in this field cover topics as diverse as, and not limited to:

  • Household electrical appliances
  • Power transformers
  • Professional refrigeration
  • Kitchen appliances
  • Heating boilers
  • Lighting
  • Pumps
  • Air conditioning
  • Power electronics
  • Audio, video and multimedia systems
  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Fans
  • Water heaters
  • Space heaters
  • Ventilation units
  • Non-household washing machines, dryers and dishwashers
  • Computers and computer servers

In addition, based on a new EC’s standardization request, new work is about to start on horizontal material efficiency aspects covering all products in the scope of Directive 2009/125/EC.

 

Standardization activities in the field of Ecodesign are carried out maintaining daily contacts with the European, Commission’s DG Energy and DG Grow.