Regulation 2012/206 - Implementation of Directive 2009/125/EC with regard to ecodesign requirements for air conditioners and comfort fans - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 72/7

Under Directive 2009/125/EC ecodesign requirements should be set by the Commission for energy-related products representing significant volumes of sales and trade, having significant environmental impact and presenting significant potential for improvement through design in terms of their environmental impact, without entailing excessive costs.

Point (a) of Article 16(2) of Directive 2009/125/EC provides that in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 19(3) and the criteria set out in Article 15(2), and after consulting the Ecodesign Consultation Forum, the Commission shall, as appropriate, introduce implementing measures offering a high potential for cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as for products in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.

The Commission has carried out a preparatory study to analyse the technical, environmental and economic aspects of air conditioners and comfort fans typically used in households and small commercial establishments. The study has been developed together with stakeholders and interested parties from the EU and third countries, and the results have been made publicly available.

The main environmental aspects of the products covered, identified as significant for the purposes of this Regulation, are energy consumption in use phase and sound power level. The preparatory study also identified possible refrigerant leakage as a significant environmental aspect in form of direct greenhouse gas emissions, representing on average 10-20 % of the combined direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.

As shown in the preparatory study and confirmed during the impact assessment, there is a lack of information on the efficiency of comfort fans. However, in order to provide market surveillance authorities important information and allow efficient monitoring of the market for the purposes of setting minimum energy efficiency requirements in the future, product information requirements on comfort fans will ensure that the efficiency of the appliance and the measurement method used be well visible on the product. Furthermore, standby and off mode requirements are set for comfort fans.

The annual electricity consumption of products subject to this Regulation was estimated to have been 30 TWh in the EU in 2005. Unless specific measures are taken, annual electricity consumption is predicted to be 74 TWh in 2020. The preparatory study shows that the electricity consumption of products subject to this Regulation can be significantly reduced.

The preparatory study shows that requirements regarding other ecodesign parameters referred to in Annex I, Part 1, to Directive 2009/125/EC are not necessary as electricity consumption and sound power level of air conditioners in the use phase are the most significant environmental aspects.

As refrigerants are addressed under Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (2) no specific...