Policy Updates

<p>The 2019 edition of the European Environment Agency (EEA) report on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gases) confirms the progress achieved in 2018 by the European Union. The 2019 report also looks at the phase-down under the Montreal Protocol that apply from 2019.</p>

<p>As announced in GEN – 1059.00, the revised Electric Motors and Variable Speed Drives Regulation has been published on the announced date of 25 October 2019, as Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1781 of 1 October 2019, laying down Ecodesign requirements for electric motors and variable speed drives pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, amending Regulation (EC) No 641/2009 with regard to Ecodesign requirements for glandless standalone circulators and glandless circulators integrated in products and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 640/2009.</p>

<p>As you may already know, the Eurovent Association is switching to a new membership structure as of 1 January 2020. After this date, manufacturer participation in working groups and access to the Extranet will be reserved for contributing members only (i.e. Corresponding Members). Read on to find out more about this change and learn what to do in order to keep all your Eurovent benefits.</p>

<p>The European Commission has just released its draft minutes of the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Consultation Forum (EELCF) meetings held on 9 and 10 September 2019. Together with APPLiA, Eurovent has commented on the review proposal for air conditioning and comfort fans. A comment on the proposal to bring different technologies under one label for local space heaters is under development.</p>

<p>On 10 October 2019 the Commission DG GROW issue the tender to prepare for the fourth Working Plan. Formally it is the first Working Plan that combines Ecodesign and Energy Labelling. It is the intention to select the consultant/consortium relatively quick. Nine n months are given to carry out the study, so that before the end of 2020 the Working Plan will be available.</p>

<p>In cooperation with Orgalim, the Eurovent Team regularly provides you with an in-depth overview on all European legislative developments of relevance for the HVACR sector. The Bulletin provides for a hands-on compendium allowing the industry to assess the status quo and expected future developments. In addition to recent sector specific issues, our Team has summarised some of the key takeaways within this article.</p>

<p>On behalf of the European Commission (DG CLIMA), Öko-Recherche is working on a series of analysis evaluating the implementation of the F-Gas Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 since 2015. This includes, among others, monitoring of the refrigerant prices. The Q2/2019 report has been recently shared with Eurovent.</p>

<p>On a monthly basis, the Eurovent Team compiles a global overview of the latest developments concerning new standardisation activities and technical regulations of relevance for the HVACR industry. Our Notifications allow members to be prepared for developments that can have an impact on them and their products.</p>

<p>The European Commission has released the 2019 pocketbook with data up to 2017. Whereas the first pocketbooks elaborated mainly on energy figures, the 2019 version also covers socio-economic indicators and the impact of the energy sector on the environment.</p>

<p>The month of September has seen the release of a few documents. Of these, the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling review study for space and water heaters will interest manufacturers of heat pumps. The methodology to forecast and promote efficiency in heating and cooling has been improved, this will mainly affect the development of the national forecasts (including threats and opportunities for technologies). Lastly, the EEPLIANT3 activities have started. </p>

<p>The latest document by ASERCOM, the Association of European Component Manufacturers, is a guideline that provides for common interpretation of the demands for, and application of components in vapour compression systems which use flammable refrigerants. </p>

<p>On 1 October 2019, the European Commission has announced in a press release that it has adopted 10 Ecodesign implementing Regulations. The 10 measures include the revised electric motors and variable speed drives regulation, and the refrigeration appliances with a direct sales function implementing regulations. For the refrigerators with a direct sales function implementing regulations, the implementing measure regarding energy labelling has also been adopted. </p>