Energy efficiency products: office and communication technology equipment, labelling programme Energy Star

PURPOSE : to present policy instruments promoting energy efficiency on consumer electronic equipment in stand-by mode. CONTENT : Energy efficiency is one of the most important policy areas in attaining the Community's objective of reducing CO2 emissions. There is particularly a need to promote the efficient use of electricity, which is responsible for about 30% of total CO2 emissions. Stand-by losses of consumer electronic equipment are responsible for considerable amounts of electricity. Such losses are rapidly increasing, and this electricity represents a waste of resources. The total EU domestic power consumption of consumer electronic equiment in stand-by mode has been estimated to be around 36 TWh and is predicted to increase to 62 TWh by 2010. The communication considers various instruments such as minimum efficiency performance standards (MEPS), voluntary agreements, and labelling. Among the policy options presented, the Commission feels that negotiated agreements with the manufacturers of consumer electronic equipment is a promising instrument that needs to be explored further with a view to covering more types of equipment. The option of regulation is not excluded if voluntary agreements for some products do not look promising. The introduction of a labelling initiative for energy efficient consumer electronic equipment might help reduce the energy consumption of such equipment, but would, where appropriate, have to be co-ordinated and coherent with the existing EU Eco-label. These policy options will be considered for inclusion in the forthcoming Energy Efficiency Action Plan to be presented by the Commission.�