The Eco-Design Directive establishes an EU-wide framework for setting minimum energy efficiency standards for energy related products. It aims to improve the energy efficiency of products throughout their life-cycle and includes provisions to enforce the use of EU energy labelling as well facilitating the free movement of goods across the EU.

The Directive has been transposed into law in the UK by the Eco-Design for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010. The Regulations fall within the portfolio of The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and are enforced by the National Measurement Office (NMO).

It is anticipated that the roll out of the Regulations will result in energy savings for consumers and reductions in CO2 emissions as well as wider environmental benefits.

Energy related products include:

• Energy-using products (EUPs), which use, generate, transfer or measure energy, such as; boilers, computers, televisions, fridges, transformers, household lamps, industrial fans, industrial furnaces etc.
• Other energy related products (ERPs) which, whilst they do not use energy directly themselves, do nonetheless have an impact on energy use, such as; windows, insulation, taps and shower heads etc.

The Regulations require manufacturers, importers and suppliers to achieve minimum standards for the amount of energy regulated products consume. A declaration of conformity must be drawn up by the manufacturer or importer and the CE mark applied. Technical files must be drawn up by manufacturers or importers containing design calculations and test reports in support of the declaration of conformity. These files may be examined by the National Measurement Office.

The regulations currently cover:

• Air conditioners and comfort fans.
• Circulators.
• Dishwashers.
• Domestic lighting.
• External power supplies.
• Fans.
• Household refrigerating appliances.
• Motors.
• Simple set top boxes.
• Standby and off mode.
• Televisions.
• Tertiary lighting.
• Washing machines.
• Water pumps.

The DEFRA website provides details of the ongoing programme for rolling out the Regulations to cover other product types.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Climate change act.
• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
• Energy Act.
• Emission rates.
• Energy targets.
• Environmental policy.
• Green deal.
• Sustainability.
• Sustainable materials.
• Whole life costs.
• Zero carbon homes.
• Zero carbon non-domestic buildings.

[edit] External references

• National Measurement Office: Ecodesign for Energy Related Products.
• BIS: Energy Related Products leaflet.
• Defra: Eco-design.
• The EU Directive.
• The Regulations in full.
• BIS: Eco Design of Energy Related Products.
• BIS: Summary of legislation in force.
• The Edge Debate: The Politics of Carbon Emissions Data.