The European Commission has published details of eco-design requirements in respect of the standby and off mode power consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment.
A preparatory study showed that products with standby and off mode are placed on the EU market in large volumes. It was estimated that 3.7 billion products had standby / off mode in 2005 corresponding to costs in electricity usage of €6.4 billion while actually in standby / off mode, or 47 TWh (Terra-Watt hours). By 2020 it is anticipated there will be 4.6 billion products. Clearly the environmental impact of electricity consumption in standby / off mode is significant.
Following
various consultations and forums the following eco-design requirements
will be implemented one year after the regulation has come into force
which, in turn, will be on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union:
- Power consumption of equipment in any off mode condition shall not exceed 1.0W.
- Power consumption of equipment in any condition providing only a reactivation function shall not exceed 1.0W.
- Power
consumption of equipment in any condition providing only an information
or status display, or these plus a reactivation function shall not
exceed 2.0W.
Four years after the regulation has come into force this will reduce to:
- Power consumption in off mode shall not exceed 0.5W.
- Power consumption for a reactivation function shall not exceed 0.5W
- Power consumption for an information or status display, or these plus a reactivation function shall not exceed 1.0W.
Equipment
shall, where appropriate, offer a power management function that
switches equipment, after the shortest period of time to standby or off
mode.
Typical products that are covered by this regulation include household appliances such as washing machines, dish washers through to hair dryers, domestic IT equipment, consumer equipment such as televisions, video cameras through to musical instruments, and toys, leisure and sports equipment.
Directive 2005/32/EC or Energy using Products (EuP) is playing an important part in achieving the target of a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020
Directive Decoder
Gary Nevison, Head of Legislation at