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Voluntary Agreements

|Introduction

|EICTA Self Commitment on Televisions and DVD Players

|CECED Self Commitment on Refrigerators and Freezers

|CECED Self Commitment on Washing Machines

|Codes of Conduct

|European Motor Challenge Programme

|GreenLight Programme

|Green Building Programme

Codes of Conduct

Stand-by power of electrical equipment is the electricity consumed by end-use devices when they are switched off or not performing their main function. Stand-by power consumption is an increasing fraction of the European Union’s electricity use and the fast penetration of new and digital technology is likely to increase this share. It is estimated that stand-by power already accounts for about 10% of the electricity use in homes and offices of the EU Member States. The European Climate Change Programme (2000) indicated the urgent need to take action to reduce stand-by losses.

Technology exists to avoid or reduce stand-by power consumption. As for other energy efficiency initiatives for end-use equipment, actions taken at EU level avoid creating trade barriers as the levels and requirements for equipment will be the same throughout the EU market. Moreover, the more equipment is covered, the larger are the energy and environmental benefits.

That is why as a first step the European Commission concluded in 1997 a negotiated agreement with individual consumer electronic manufacturers and the EU trade association EACEM to reduce the stand-by losses of TVs and VCRs. Later on in 2000 a second agreement for reducing the stand-by losses of audio equipment was concluded.

In 1999 Commission Communication COM(1999)120 to the Council and the European Parliament on Policy Instruments to Reduce Stand-by Losses of Consumer Electronic Equipment set the political framework for further actions in this field. As a result of the Council Conclusions on the Communication two Code of Conducts, for External Power Supplies and for Digital TV Services, were introduced. Both Codes of Conduct have in common that participation is voluntary and that the energy efficiency guidelines are developed in close co-operation with industry.

• The scope of the Code of Conduct for External Power Supplies are external power supplies for electronic appliances including AC adapters, battery chargers, domestic appliances power tools and IT equipment, in the input range of 0.3 to 75 W. The participating manufacturers of power supplies commit themselves to design and produce power supplies that comply with ever stricter energy efficiency guidelines. The participating manufacturers of appliances that use power supplies in their products commit themselves to the use of these more efficient parts. Though it is a voluntary scheme the list of participants includes major players in electronics in Europe. This code of conduct is expected to result in savings of 5 TWh per year from 2010. Further savings can be expected from the application of efficient power supplies in electronic appliances like TVs, VCRs, microwave ovens etc.
   

• The Code of Conduct for Digital Television aims at equipment for the reception, decoding and interactive processing of Digital broadcasting and related services. Without any measures the growing use of this equipment will contribute substantially to the electricity consumption of households in European Community in the near future, thus posing a problem for EU energy and environmental policies. It is important that the electrical efficiency of equipment required to support digital TV and related services is maximised. To help all stakeholders (manufacturers of equipment, broadcasters) address the issue of energy efficiency, the European Commission has developed the Code of Conduct for Digital Television which sets out the basic principles to be followed by all parties involved.

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