European Union heats up fight against energy thirsty appliances

It will be impossible for manufacturers to put high-energy consumption appliances such as television sets, refrigerators and freezers on the EU market in a few years' time.

The European Commission has issued a set of eco-design rules in the wake of earlier regulations on standby modes of TV sets, set-top boxes usually used for cable and digital television, external power supplies and light bulbs. The new regulations, an attempt to further cut energy requirements and ease climate change, relate to an array of electrical equipment, ranging from circulators to TV sets.

Implemented under the EU's eco-design directive, which allows the Commission to set minimum efficiency standards for energy-using products, Brussels is estimating the new measures will save about 190 TWh (terawatt hour) of electricity annually by 2020, equalling the combined yearly consumption of Sweden and Austria.

The new specifications will only allow the most efficient TV sets and refrigerating appliances on the market.

The rules include new specifications for industrial motors making it illegal to put inefficient products on the market from 2011.

Large motors will have to be highly efficient from 2015, with all other motors following in 2017. Alternatively, they may be equipped with variable speed drivers, which adjust output to actual needs so the appliance does not run at full capacity all the time.

Water circulators, found in boilers and heating systems, will also be regulated by EU law.

The new rules would shift the market towards intelligent products that adjusted to the heating system's needs, the Commission said.

Brussels has already issued nine eco-design regulations, which are expected to save about 315 TWh of electricity per year by 2020 if fully implemented.

This is more than the annual electricity consumption of Italy.

Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said the package was a milestone on the road to achieving energy efficiency, climate change and economic recovery objectives.