20 EuP preparatory project groups

Environmental Screening and Evaluation of Energy-using Products (EuP) Final Report

Not all energy-using products will have obligations under the EuP framework, only those meeting criteria with significant environmental impact and volume of trade in the internal market which have clear potential for improvement, for example where market forces fail to make progress in the absence of a legal requirement.

The European Commission has decided that the first step in considering whether and which eco-design requirements should be set for a particular product is a preparatory study. This is to recommend ways to improve the environmental performance of the product.

The Commission launched an invitation to tender for 14 preparatory studies corresponding to families of EuPs on 7 July 2005. The Commission has since launched an additional study on Simple Converter Boxes for digital television, and a further 5 preparatory studies in 2007 relating to the following product groups:

solid fuel small combustion installations (in particular for heating)
laundry dryers
vacuum cleaners
complex set top boxes (with conditional access and/or functions that are always on)
domestic lighting

The studies should provide the Commission with the necessary information to prepare for the next phases (carried out by the Commission) - the impact assessment, the consultation with the Eco-design Forum and a possible draft implementing measure.

Details on the work of each study may be found on the website for the study as listed below:

	Study	Website	Status*
1	Boilers and combi-boilers (gas/oil/electric)	www.ecoboiler.org/	Reported
2	Water heaters (gas/oil/electric)	www.ecohotwater.org/	Reported
3	Personal Computers (desktops & laptops) and computer monitors	www.ecocomputer.org/	Reported
4	Imaging equipment: copiers, faxes, printers, scanners, multifunctional devices	www.ecoimaging.org/	Reported
5	Consumer electronics: televisions	www.ecotelevision.org/	Reported
6	Standby and off-mode losses of EuPs	www.ecostandby.org/	Reported
7	Battery chargers and external power supplies	www.ecocharger.org/	Reported
8	Office lighting	www.eup4light.net	Reported
9	(Public) Street lighting	www.eup4light.net	Reported
10	Residential room conditioning appliances (aircon and ventilation)	www.ecoaircon.eu/	Ongoing Working document published*
11	Electric motors 1-150 kW, water pumps (commercial buildings, drinking water, food, agriculture), circulators in buildings, ventilation fans (non-residential)	www.ecomotors.org	Reported
12	Commercial refrigerators and freezers, including chillers, display cabinets and vending machines	www.ecofreezercom.org	Reported
13	Domestic refrigerators and freezers	www.ecocold-domestic.org/	Ongoing Working document published*
14	Domestic dishwashers and washing machines.	www.ecowet-domestic.org/	Ongoing Working document published*
15	Simple converter boxes for digital television (Simple STBs)	www.ecostb.com	Ongoing Working document published*
16	Solid fuel small combustion installations (in particular for heating)	http://www.ecosolidfuel.org/	Ongoing Working document published*
17	Laundry dryers	http://www.ecodryers.org/	Ongoing Working document published*
18	Vacuum cleaners	www.ecovacuum.org	Ongoing Working document published*
19	Complex set top boxes (with conditional access and/or functions that are always on)	http://www.ecocomplexstb.org/	Ongoing Working document published*
20	Domestic lighting	www.eup4light.net	The EC has published working documents for Domestic lighting part 1, including incandescent bulbs

*Status:

“Reported” – Report has been made; European Commission considering implementation options

"Working document published" A working document on possible implementing measures drafted and published on Commission website

Source: BERR: UK Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, http://www.berr.gov.uk, amended and updated by the authors.