Papers Today

// Brussels proposes wider EU energy label

An EU energy label for household appliances is to be extended to all energy-related products that have a significant impact on energy consumption under draft legislation proposed by the European commission on Thursday. Public authorities would only be allowed to buy products above a certain efficiency class.

The revised energy labelling scheme is part of a major package of measures to further improve energy efficiency and increase the security of European energy supplies (see related articles, this issue). The revision also fits into an EU plan to boost sustainable consumption and production unveiled earlier this year.

The commission wants to extend the scope of the 1992 energy labelling directive to energy-using products in the industrial and commercial sectors. Existing rules only cover domestic appliances. Another proposal is to apply the rules to energy-related products such as double-glazing. Second-hand products and vehicles are excluded.

Labels should indicate consumption of energy and of "water, chemicals or any other substance" the commission says. Exactly what is included in a label would be defined on a product-by-product basis through separate implementing measures decided under EU comitology rules. Stakeholders want non-energy information to be voluntary.

The commission also proposes minimum efficiency standards for green public procurement (GPP) and incentives to buy greener products. Thresholds would be set through product-specific implementing measures. EU states have expressed disquiet about such mandatory measures.

If fully implemented, the proposal is expected to save 80 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2020, based on savings from commercial heating and refrigeration appliances and windows alone. Separately, the commission is in discussion with member states to approve a new format for the product energy.

Follow-up: European commission http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm, tel: +32 2 299 1111, plus memo http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/700&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en,
proposed directive
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/strategies/2008/doc/2008_11_ser2/products_labelling_standard_directive_proposal.pdf,
impact assessment
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/strategies/2008/doc/2008_11_ser2/products_labelling_standard_impact_assesment.pdf,
and impact assessment summary
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/strategies/2008/doc/2008_11_ser2/products_labelling_standard_impact_assesment_summary.pdf.