European ecodesign rules and related legislation

European ecodesign rules and related legislation

The entire industry must face and embrace initiatives such as the European Ecodesign of Energy Using Products (EuP) standard

BY PAUL BUCKLEY
Newark
Chicago, IL
http://www.newark.com

Of all the recently adopted European Union legislation, the Ecodesign of Energy Using Products (EuP) Directive (2005/32/EC) is likely to have the most significant impact on design engineers, as well as the entire electronics industry. Unlike the RoHS and WEEE directives, which focus on certain categories of electronic and electrical equipment, EuP is deliberately broad in scope and, other than transport, applies to virtually any product that consumes, generates or controls energy. EuP covers finished products as well as components and subassemblies.

While EuP aims to bring about improvements in energy efficiency throughout a product’s entire lifecycle, its main concentration is on the design phase. The European Commission (EC) has estimated that more than 80% of all product-related environmental impacts are made during this phase.

‘Implementing’ measures

EuP is a framework directive. This means that it does not directly impose requirements on manufacturers, but sets up a mechanism for introducing “implementing measures” that will impose specified design requirements. Like RoHS, whatever measures are introduced will be required to be met in all EU member states.

It is not the intention of the EC to produce a large number of implementing measures. They will come about only if voluntary ecodesign improvements are not already in place, or are deemed ineffective. The directive sets a list of criteria that need to be met if an implementing measure is to be permitted:

At least 200,000 units of a given product have to be sold per year (although the EC has still to specify whether this is of an individual product type or broad category).

There must be significant potential for environmental improvement.

It should not entail serious cost to industry or consumers.

An example of an implementing measure could be a restriction in the amount of energy a product consumes during its working life.

It is the responsibility of the EC to carry out studies to determine if implementing measures are required and to recommend targets, such as energy consumption reductions, for industry to reach. So far there have been over 20 studies into different product types and many more will be carried out in the future. Implementation measures will enter into force during 2008/2009.

The directive also goes beyond energy, requiring that all aspects of the product that impact on the environment be addressed. This means that manufacturers will have to use some kind of lifecycle analysis software to provide an ecological profile of their products based on such criteria as predicted consumption of materials and energy; anticipated emissions to air, water, soil; expected generation of waste material; anticipated pollution; possibilities for reuse; and recycling.

Ensuring compliance

Whoever (manufacturer, representative, or importer) first places the product on the market in the EU is responsible for ensuring compliance with EuP implementing measures. Products and product categories being studied to determine whether EuP “implementing measures” are needed include:

External power supplies and battery chargers (completed)

Standby and off-mode power losses

Personal computers

Consumer electronics televisions

Office lighting

Street lighting (completed)

Set top boxes

Electric motors – 1 to 150 kW

The first two are generic categories that cover a wide variety of product types, while the others target more specific products or components. The recommendations from the two completed studies illustrate the type of requirements that can be expected.

It should be noted, however, that the intent of the studies being performed are to provide regulatory options, not to make a final regulatory recommendation. You can read more about these options in the Design Impact EuP article posted at the Legislation Center at www.newark.com/edworld.

The first implementing measures are expected to be issued within the next two years, and by 2010 it is estimated that most electronic and electrical equipment will be covered.

California regulations

Meanwhile, a bill is pending in California (AB1109) that is aimed at reducing the lead and mercury content of general-purpose lighting, establishing energy efficiency standards for general-purpose lighting, and increasing end-of-life recycling of general-purpose lighting. There is another bill pending in California (AB722) that would ban the sale of 25 to 150 watt incandescent light bulbs. Similar incandescent light bulb sales bans are pending in Connecticut, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Canada.

California’s AB1109 would “prohibit a person from selling, or offering for sale, general-purpose lights that contain levels of hazardous substances prohibited by the European Union. A manufacturer would be required to prepare documentation showing the general-purpose lights it offers for sale in California comply with the requirements of the RoHS Directive.

The bill would also require the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to “adopt minimum energy efficiency standards for all general purpose lights” by December 30, 2008. The stated goal is to reduce statewide electrical energy consumption by 50% from 2007 levels for indoor residential lighting, and 25% from 2007 levels for indoor commercial and outdoor lighting by 2018.

Finally, manufacturers of general-purpose lights sold in California that contain hazardous substances, would be required to ensure a system is in place for the collection and recycling of the end-of-life general purpose lights sold in California. AB1109 is being is supported by lighting manufacturers, and is similar to some parts of EuP, WEEE, and RoHS.

California’s AB722 would prohibit the sale of 25 to 150-W incandescent light bulbs beginning in 2012. While the bill doesn’t prescribe what should replace the bulbs, its backers hope people will switch to compact-fluorescent lighting, which uses 70% less electricity. Major light bulb manufacturers like General Electric oppose this bill.

The bills pending in Connecticut, North Carolina, and Rhode Island also prohibit the sale of these bulbs. Connecticut and Rhode Island propose banning sales in 2012, and North Carolina in 2016.

Energy Star and others

The voluntary Energy Star program in the U.S. is expected to expand. Energy Star and EuP share the same goal: reducing a product’s energy consumption during its useful lifecycle. Launched in 1992, the program rewards manufacturers of electronic equipment that rank in the top 25% of energy performance levels for a given product category.

Although Energy Star is a voluntary program, there are increasing disadvantages for not complying; products that are not Energy Star-certified cannot be sold to the government and consumers are increasingly opting for energy-saving appliances. Products that bear ecofriendly labels like the Energy Star have a distinct edge.

In the coming year, the EPA’s Energy Star program will target data centers, which are found in every public and private sector of the economy. An August 2007 report from the EPA revealed that the energy consumption for servers and data centers has doubled in the past five years, and is expected to double again in the next five years, costing about $7.4 billion annually.

China RoHS states that designers will have to follow Chinese ecodesign standards. These have not been written yet, no drafts available, and it will probably be a long time before we hear anything.

Once again, global harmonization would be the preferred option. The optimistic goals of these eco-laws are to push for innovation, better products for customers, and savings to manufacturers in reduced materials and energy costs. In response to the growing energy use legislation, we’ve already seen the introduction of more power-efficient semiconductors and integrated components from suppliers. Proactively integrating eco-design principles and practices into the design processes, as well as in our supply chains, are challenges the entire industry must face and embrace. ■

For more on energy-saving design, visit http://electronicproducts-com-develop.go-vip.net/search1.asp?StartNum=1&slot=0&year=10&stype=K&keyword=”energy%20saving”