Ecodesign and energy labelling
These topics are covered by two different European legislative acts and have in common the aim of reducing Community energy consumption., acting on the product categories that are deemed to have the greatest impact.
Ecodesign deals with the efficiency of these products, while energy labelling deals with information to the final buyer.
Ecodesign
The European Ecodesign Act is the ErP Directive 2009/125/EC on energy-related products.
Its field of application includes both energy-consuming products such as water heaters or lighting fixtures, and products that affect energy consumption, such as windows or taps.
This directive defines a general regulatory framework that manufacturers must comply with, already in the planning phase, to increase energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of its products. Linked to this Directive, numerous specific implementation measures have been published., in the form of Regulations, each concerning a specific product category.
Each implementation measure constitutes a special standard, laying down precise guidance for the conformity assessment of a given product category and determining minimum acceptable energy performance limits and other environmental parameters.
To find out if a specific category of products falls under this directive, In practice, it must be checked whether a specific implementing measure applicable to that category has been published..
It is interesting to note that this directive also includes all those products which, due to their large diffusion, are relevant, although individually they don't draw much power, For example, chargers or equipment that can remain in a standby state.
Energy labeling
Energy labels uniformly classify appliances according to the amount of energy consumed. In this way they help the
consumers to save money by choosing products that consume less energy and guide companies in designing future products.
For some product groups, the energy label must be prominently affixed to each product at the point of sale.
Currently this topic is regulated by the European Regulation (I) 2017/1369, which replaced the previous 2010/30/EU and 92/75/EEC.
This Regulation defines a general regulatory framework. A number of specific implementation measures have been published in connection with it., in the form of other Regulations, each concerning a specific product category.
Each implementation measure sets out precise indications for the energy classification of a given product category and what other parameters should be indicated on the label..
As in the case of ecodesign, The applicability to a product category is determined by the existence of a specific implementation measure dedicated to that category..
All products requiring energy labels must be registered in the European EPREL database before they can be sold on the EU market.
Sicom Testing can provide a complete service on ecodesign and energy labeling, as well as consultancy for these topics.