Methodology
Summary
The aim of the study is to provide the Commission and the Consultation Forum with background and analysis to allow the Commission to establish a Working Plan which sets out an indicative list of product groups. The study will do so by presenting a ranking of product groups according environmental improvement potential, completed by a full description of how this ranking was achieved.
Task description
The ranking will be achieved by three consecutive steps:
- First, we will establish a list of all energy-related product groups, excluding those covered by previous Ecodesign-related studies (e.g. 1st Working Plan, finished or ongoing preparatory studies). The study shall suggest product group definitions and indicate how they correspond to possible preparatory studies.
- Second, we will make an assessment of market volume, energy consumption and energy improvement potential. This requires not only an assessment of market and stock, but also of average use patterns, average energy consumption and an indication of costs associated with energy improvement potential. The top ranking 25 product groups will be further analysed.
- Third, the 25 product groups will undergo a more elaborate environmental analysis, taking non-energy consumption aspects and other EU or extra EU policy initiatives into consideration. This exercise will result in a final ranking based on environmental improvement potential.
Throughout these steps stakeholder participation is crucial. The study will allow for a two-way information exchange through this website ("feedback") and stakeholder meetings.
FAQ
The section below discusses some important elements of the tasks of the study:
What are Energy-related products?
Directive 2009/125/EC provides the following definition of energy-related products:
Article 2, item 1: "Energy-related product means any good that has an impact on energy consumption during use, which is placed on the market and/or put into service ...(including parts) ... of which the environmental performance can be assessed independently."
Furthermore, the recitals mentioned in the beginning of the Directive also give some concrete examples:
Recital 4: "... In addition to products which use, generate, transfer, or measure energy, certain energy-related products, including products used in construction such as windows, insulation materials, or some water-using products such as shower heads or taps could also contribute to significant energy savings during use."
What will be the basis for the final ranking?
The study will present a final ranking of product groups which will be based on the environmental improvement potential. However, before this ranking is achieved the product groups are assessed on market volume, energy consumption, energy improvement potential as well as other environmental aspects.
The market volume will be assessed using PRODCOM and market specific data.
The environmental impact will be assessed by first describing the energy consumption and secondly by providing a more elaborate environmental analysis, using the Ecoreport tool. For this analysis the average product, its pattern of use and the average energy consumption and other environmental impacts need to be identified, in collaboration with stakeholders.
The improvement potential and the costs associated to this will be identified through talks to stakeholders, desk research and known engineering/manufacturing practices. The ranking of product groups will be subject to checks against existing and forthcoming policy measures.
This study is not meant to identify the criteria for specific products: This is the task of the preparatory studies. The study for the Amended Working Plan is only intended to provide the basis for the Commission and the Consultation Forum to agree on the indicative list of product groups as to be presented in the (amended) Working Plan.
Why should stakeholders be involved?
The Commission is dedicated in giving stakeholders the opportunity to provide input to this study thereby creating a fully transparant and open process. The website your are viewing is the main information exchange platform between the study-team, the Commission and the stakeholders.
All (draft) documents will be freely available through this website, but if you register as stakeholder you will receive notifications on website updates. Furthermore, as stakeholder, you can provide direct feedback to draft reports published on this website and make suggestions for energy-related products. We would be grateful if you could accompany your proposals for product groups with supporting material regarding the environmental impact, economic significance and the saving potential, but this should not be considered obligatory. Please note that your comments and suggestions can be made public on this website.
Halfway and towards the end of the study meetings with stakeholders will take place. The first meeting will discuss the interim results and is expected to take place around March 2011. The second stakeholder meeting will discuss the draft final results and will take place around late August / early September 2011 (dates pending study progress and planning). Invitations and ways to register as stakeholder will be timely announced through this website.
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