Policy Updates

<p>The Commission has just been informed that the Impact Assessment for the proposed draft regulation did not pass the Regulatory Scrutiny Board. The Commission will now try to improve on the Impact Assessment by mid-August so that it could be submitted to the RSB in September. The Commission is looking for input by 18 July to redraft the Impact Assessment.</p>

<p>FRONT is a demonstration funded under LIFE, the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects. The project should result in Europe’s largest leakage size and simulation database for equipment using flammable refrigerants.</p>

<p>On 30 November 2016, the European Commission presented a new package of measures with the goal of providing the stable legislative framework needed to facilitate the clean energy transition and towards the creation of the Energy Union. Some of the measures are now nearing their publication, including the revision of a few revised directives.</p>

<p>In each ClimaNovela edition throughout the summer, Eurovent Board and senior staff members are going to answer a question concerning the state of the European industry, technological evolutions, digitisation, the upcoming Eurovent Summit in Seville or other issues of relevance. Our first question goes to our past President and current Vice-President Alex Rasmussen: In May this year, your three years as a President of Eurovent ended. Could you make an evaluation of your work in this time?</p>

<p>The State of California is transparent with regards to its rulemaking. It is at the same time similar and different to legislation in Europe. Stakeholders can provide input to the rulemaking and participate to discussion, also from a distance. It can be noted that these developments are echoed and sometimes provide inspiration for European legislation.</p>

<p>On 5 June 2018, the European Commission has released the RED guide to help with the common application of the Directive. The guide, like Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), has no weight in law but deals with many practical issues that are of interest to manufacturers and stakeholders. A separate note was released on “Non-radio electrical products functioning with radio equipment” and “Radio or electrical equipment with non-electrical products” in relation to the Electromagnetic Compatibility and Low Voltage.</p>

<p>On 12 June, the website of the INTAS project has been complemented with a set of draft documents analysing applicable regulations while testing best practice of transformers and fans. On 20 June, the INTAS questionnaire was presented to the Belgian National Focal Point. The questionnaire has been circulated in 9 countries and 48 stakeholders made comments. The deadline for comments is 26 June.</p>

<p>On 12 June, the website of the INTAS project has been complemented with a set of draft documents analysing applicable regulations and testing best practice of transformers and fans. Unrelated, but worthy of note is that the State of California has also produced a study on fans.</p>

<p>Following earlier meetings with ASHRAE, Eurovent was invited to the AASA (ASHRAE Associate Society Alliance) meetings on 22 and 23 April 2018. The goal of the meeting was to investigate if an HVAC&R Global Alliance should be established. The meeting also included a most useful overview of UN actions in the field of HVACR.</p>

<p>The recognition of product data that can be used in the calculation of the regional (Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia) Energy Performance of Buildings is a service offered by the three Belgian regions to facilitate the calculations. Within the HVAC sector, this service is offered for fans and ventilation units.</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 prepare for developments that can have an impact on them and their products.</p>

<p>The European Environment Agency has published its <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/european-union-greenhouse-gas-inventory-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990-2016 and inventory report 2018</a>. The report shows a 0.6% decrease of greenhouse gases emissions (-27 million tonnes CO2 equivalent) between 2015 and 2016 for a total of 4,300 million tonnes CO2 equivalent. Since 1990, the EU has reduced its net GHG emissions by 24% (-1,356 million tonnes CO2 equivalents), surpassing its 20% reduction target by 2020.</p>