EU To Impose Energy Restriction On Electrical Goods
February 14, 2011 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
Washing machines and dishwasher will have to meet minimum levels of energy efficiency under the EU’s Ecodesign decree, despite doubts within the industry whether the rules would improve products’ performance.
The European Commission estimate the ruling on a wider range of kitchen appliances could reduce energy consumption by 10 per cent, which will put the EU halfway towards its target of reducing energy consumption by 20 per cent in 2020.
Under the EU’s Ecodesign decree, washing machines and dishwashers will have to meet minimum energy levels of energy efficiency but doubts still remain whether the rules would improve products’ performance.
The EC says the ruling will reduce energy usage in electrical appliances by 10 per cent, which will put the EU in good stead to meeting its target of cutting energy usage by 20 per cent in 2020.
The ruling means that washing machines and dishwashers join the growing list of electrical products including televisions, fridgesfreezers andelectric cookers that have to meet strict guidelines on reducing energy and water usage.
The standards were formally adopted at the beginning of November. From 2011 instruction booklets for most electrical products will indicate the most energy efficient features and detail energy consumption. Furthermore, by December 2013 household washing machines sold in The EU will have to have a cycle function at 20°C.
At the momentWasher dryers are excluded from the EU’s ruling, but the EU have sad that these appliances will be brought under the directive as soon as possible.
The White Goods Trade Association have questioned the EU’s ruling feeling that the commission’s findings are uncomprehending.
A spokesman said: “The difficulty is that a lot of these figures are disingenuous and what you get are meaningless percentages.”
He added that the supposed energy improvement didn’t factor in the the energy cost to produce and dispose of the old unit. Furthermore, he claimed that most manufacturers couldn’t back up their figures with actual energy and water efficiency employed methods to improve performance
“Basically, it comes down to how manufacturers interpret figures. It makes no difference to the industry, they’re just in the business to sell white boxes,” he said.
