Policy Updates

<p>The 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive establishes a set of binding measures to help the EU reach its 20% energy efficiency target by 2020. On 30 November 2016, the Commission proposed an update to the Energy Efficiency Directive. In this update, it proposes to revise the Primary Energy Factor from 2,5 (as currently set) to 2,0. The proposed value could prove beneficial for a certain family of heating products, but how about for other ones?</p>

<p>The IOR will be hosting the inaugural IIR International Conference on the Application of HFO Refrigerants from 2 to 5 September 2018 in Birmingham. The three-day conference will provide a focus for global experience on the use of low flammable A2L classification refrigerants, which encompass the new generation of HFO refrigerants heralded as replacements for high-GWP HFC refrigerants. The event will cover essential information for designers, manufacturers, end users and installers about characteristics of low GWP refrigerants, system and component design, lubricants, flammability, legislation, codes of practice and standards.</p>

<p>The Council Presidency has been busy developing compromise proposals for the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The 4th and most recent one dates 16 May 2016. This text gives an indication where the final compromise could move to. The Eurovent Secretariat has assessed the compromise proposal.</p>

<p>Energy consumption, Indoor Environmental Quality and certification systems for sustainable buildings were the main topics of the conference held in Warsaw on 16 May 2017, which was supported by Eurovent. Building consultants, architects, property managers, lawyers and our indoor climate expert Igor Sikonczyk discussed in which direction the development of modern office buildings is heading towards.</p>

<p>We have listened to your feedback and improved our system of information distribution to members. As of now, the way of distributing ‘GEN(eral) documents’ through separate emails will end and replaced by a new, innovative information channel tailor-made to your needs.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, 17 May 2016, Eurovent and Uniclima jointly organised their Refrigeration2030 event in Paris. The event provided an interactive forum for close to 70 high-ranking sector representatives to discuss trends and developments in Industrial and Commercial Refrigeration, Process Cooling and Food Cold Chain. Vivid discussions took place on issues such as refrigerants of the future, the latest evaporative cooling technologies, and new, innovative solutions for the 2030 supermarket. A reflection …</p>

<p>The application of the 2015/1535/EU (previously Directive 98/34/EC Directive) has also been extended to new standardisation work undertaken by National Standard Bodies (AENOR, AFNOR, DIN, UNI…) at national level. These notifications are registered centrally by the CEN Management Centre and a "Monthly Notifications Register" is circulated in English to the CEN Members and the European Commission. The National Standard Body generally provides the relevant associations with a copy of these updates.</p>

<p>This international conference on all aspects of fans takes place every three years. The third edition takes place in April 2018.The conference is supported by Eurovent and Eurovent Middle East, Uniclima and VDMA.</p>

<p>In 2012 it was decided to outsource some of the activities. The Orgalime partnership received the order for collecting and assembling an overview of overall European developments. The latest update is available.</p>

<p>Since the release of Clean Energy Package for all Europeans the Parliament Committees EPBD rapporteur Bendt Bendtsen (ITRE, appointed on 25 January 2017) and Jäätteenmäke Anneli (ENVI, appointed on 20 February 2017) have been very fast in preparing their draft report and draft opinion. These reports will be discussed on 29 May and adoption would take place the third quarter of 2017.</p>

<p>The Commission has just released an update of the guidelines for space and water heaters. The overview of the Ecodesign legislation has been updated and completed with some impact assessment studies. Of note is also the planning of the Commission ecodesign activities.</p>

<p>The discussions on the Commission proposal started in July 2015 and after several meetings in the related working groups and committees an agreement was reached during the fourth trilogue meeting on 21 March 2017. Later in March this agreement was adopted by the Council Working Party and on 25 April 2017 by ITRE Committee in the European Parliament. The final text should be adopted in Plenary session in the European Parliament and by the Council before the summer break.</p>